Biomechanical analysis of initial incisor crowding alignment in the periodontally reduced mandible using the finite element method

To reduce remaining plaque niches due to dental malocclusion after periodontal treatment and to avoid reinflammation of periodontitis, severe anterior crowding can be treated orthodontically. The treatment indication is motivated by aesthetic and functional needs. In this study the biomechanical behaviour of crowded lower front teeth in reduced periodontium is analysed.

Using the finite element (FE) method, a model of the mandible was constructed with an anterior crowding of 4 mm and a vertical bone loss of 4 mm in the front tooth area. A 0.3 mm (0.012″) round superelastic nickel titanium (NiTi) arch wire was fitted to an ideal positioned teeth set-up and was inserted into the brackets of teeth 34 to 44 in the crowded model. The premolars were used as the anchorage unit. Material parameters were adopted from previous investigations, including bone (homogenous, isotropic, E = 2 GPa), teeth (E = 20 GPa) and healthy periodontal ligament (PDL, bilinear elastic; E₁ = 0.05 MPa; E₂ = 0.2 MPa; ε₁₂ = 7%). All simulations were compared to simulations with a physiological periodontal model to assess the effect of bone loss at teeth 42 to 32. Additionally, the influence of three arch wire materials (nonsuperelastic NiTi, superelastic NiTi and stainless steel) were analysed in a reduced model, including only brackets in position of the crowded front teeth, wire and ligatures. Wire force levels and stresses were determined to assess the influence of material variation.

Initial tooth mobility is increased by a factor of 2.5 in case of a moderate periodontal defect. Front teeth with reduced attachment display increased strains in the periodontal ligament up to a factor of 2. Forces in the model with reduced periodontium were decreased by a factor of 2. Comparing different aligning arch wires, stainless steel appears to have the highest force and stress levels. Force levels of this alloy were 7.5 times higher than with the superelastic NiTi wire. Force levels of nonsuperelastic NiTi appeared to be 1.8 times higher than superelastic NiTi. Calculated stresses with stainless steel were 5 times higher than with the nonsuperelastic NiTi and 10 times higher than with superelastic NiTi.

Periodontally reduced incisors 42 to 32 are associated with an increased load on periodontal tissue and increased level of tooth mobility during fixed orthodontic treatment. This has to be considered by reducing orthodontic force levels and by selecting mechanics that reduce the load to the tissue.