Advanced digital photoelastic investigations on the tooth-bone interface

J Biomed Opt. 2001 Apr;6(2):224-30. doi: 10.1117/1.1344587.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavior of the tooth-bone interface on the nature of stress distribution in the tooth and its supporting alveolar bone for various occlusal loads using an advanced digital photoelastic technique. A digital image processing system coupled with a circular polariscope was used for the stress analysis. The phase shift technique and a phase unwrapping algorithm was utilized for fringe processing. This aids in obtaining qualitative and quantitative information on the nature of stress distribution within the dento-osseous structures. The experiments revealed bending stresses within dento-osseous structures. However, the compressive stress magnitude was larger than the tensile stress. Zero stress regions were also identified within the dento-osseous structures. The results suggest that the geometry of the dento-osseous structures and the structural gradients at the tooth-bone interface play a significant role in the distribution of stresses without stress concentrations. Further, the application of an advanced image-processing system with the circular polariscope showed notable advantages and could be applied in other biomechanical investigations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alveolar Process / anatomy & histology*
  • Alveolar Process / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dental Cementum / physiology
  • Elasticity
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Mandible
  • Models, Biological
  • Periodontal Ligament / physiology
  • Reference Values
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tooth / physiology*