Advanced digital photoelastic investigations on the tooth-bone interface.
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.
Asundi
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Nanyang Technological University, School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Singapore. masundi@ntu.edu.sg
Kishen
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D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000502:physiology; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008334:Mandible; D008954:Models, Biological; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology*