Stomatology ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 451-455.doi: 10.13591/j.cnki.kqyx.2022.05.013

• Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of torsional canines treated with different attachments and positions in clear aligner

LEI Zehua, DU Qingling, ZOU Mingyuan, YU Fei, LIN Xinping   

  1. Stomatological School of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310051, China
  • Revised:2022-02-14 Published:2022-05-24

Abstract: Objective To compare the effect of different attachments and positions on the left maxillary canine tooth torsion in clear aligner by three-dimensional finite element analysis. Methods Finite element models of the clear aligner-attachment-maxillary canine-periodontal ligament-spongy bone-cortical bone (attachment groups and non-attachment group) were established according to the scanning data of in vitro maxillary canine. The models with attachments were divided into three groups based on different kinds of attachments, namely vertical rectangular attachment, vertical wedge-shaped attachment, optimized torsion attachment groups. The placement positions were divided into buccal middle 1/3, distal 1/3 and buccal-lingual middle 1/3. Two degrees clockwise rotation of the tooth long axis was applied to the clear aligner. Actions of the appliance and the canine were simulated and calculated by MSC.Marc.Mentat software. Then, nephograms of stress and displacement, and the maximum stress and displacement values were collected. Results ① The distribution trend of the displacement of canine and the stress of periodontal ligament was similar with or without attachments, but the displacement value of canine and the stress value of periodontal ligament in the attachment group were higher than that in the non-attachment group. ② When the same attachment was selected, the stress value and maximum initial displacement value were the highest in the buccal middle 1/3; the stress and displacement expression were more efficient in buccal-lingual middle 1/3, and the effect of the distal 1/3 was relatively bad. Conclusion ① There is no significant difference in the stress value and the maximum initial displacement between the buccal middle 1/3 and the buccal-lingual middle 1/3, but the buccal-lingual middle 1/3 is more efficient, eliminating unnecessary tipping movement and requiring less retention. ② The orthodontic effect of vertical rectangular and vertical wedge-shaped attachments in one tooth model is significantly better than that of optimized torsion attachments. The actual effect needs further clinical verification.

Key words: clear aligner, attachment, torsion, canine, three-dimensional finite element analysis

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