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 element 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-documented bone formation and resorption patterns in the alveolus of the tooth. It was concluded that in orthodontically induced bone modeling activity, locations of osteogenesis uniquely coincided with increased tension within the periodontal ligament, while bone resorption areas could be associated with increases in other components (minimum principal and maximum shear stresses, strain energy density, and von Mises) within the bone itself.