Computational modeling of dynamic behaviors of human teeth

Despite the importance of dynamic behaviors of dental and periodontal structures to clinics, the biomechanical roles of anatomic sophistication and material properties in quantification of vibratory characteristics remain under-studied. This paper aimed to generate an anatomically accurate and structurally detailed 3D finite element (FE) maxilla model and explore the dynamic behaviors of human teeth through characterizing the natural frequencies (NFs) and mode shapes. The FE models with different levels of structural integrities and material properties were established to quantify the effects of modeling techniques on the computation of vibratory characteristics. The results showed that the integrity of computational model considerably influences the characterization of vibratory behaviors, as evidenced by declined NFs and perceptibly altered mode shapes resulting from the models with higher degrees of completeness and accuracy. A primary NF of 889 Hz and the corresponding mode shape featuring linguo-buccal vibration of maxillary right 2nd molar were obtained based on the complete maxilla model. It was found that the periodontal ligament (PDL), a connective soft tissue, plays an important role in quantifying NFs. It was also revealed that damping and heterogeneity of materials contribute to the quantification of vibratory characteristics. The study provided important biomechanical insights and clinical references for future studies on dynamic behaviors of dental and periodontal structures.