STRESS-ANALYSIS OF BONE MODELING RESPONSE TO RAT MOLAR ORTHODONTICS

The purpose of this project was to determine if alveolar bone modeling could be associated with altered mechanical environment. Finite eleme nt stress analysis of an orthodontically tipped rat molar periodontium was performed. The distributions of mechanical components within the periodontal ligament and cortical bone were compared to the well-docum ented bone formation and resorption patterns in the alveolus of the to oth. It was concluded that in orthodontically induced bone modeling ac tivity, locations of osteogenesis uniquely coincided with increased te nsion within the periodontal ligament, while bone resorption areas cou ld be associated with increases in other components (minimum principal and maximum shear stresses, strain energy density, and von Mises) wit hin the bone itself.