Nonlinear finite element analysis of maxillary molar vibration

摘要

The vibration of a maxillary molar was studied using the finite element method according tonnonlinear behaviour of the human periodontal ligament (PDL). The effect of alveolar bone loss tonthe vibration of the tooth was also investigated to assess the condition of periodontium. Three-ndimensional finite element model of a maxillary molar was constructed using CT imagenreconstruction, and the elastic face foundation constraint was applied to the place where the PDLnwas attached to. Modal analysis was performed using the finite element method. The nonlinearnbehaviour of the PDL was approached by the piecewise linearised method. The results indicatednthat the vibration of the maxillary molar could be described by several modal frequencies andnmodes. The first four modes were dominant, which varied with the deformation of the PDL. Thenvibration frequency of the tooth decreased with the losing of the alveolar bone, but the ratio ofndecreasing had no significant correlation with the nonlinear behaviour of the human PDL. Thenvibration frequency of the tooth can be used to describe the loss of the alveolar bone, undernphysiological short-term loading.