title: [Construction of platform on the three-dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body of a normal person].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a method to construct a three-dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body of a normal person.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of pictures with the interval of 0.1 mm were taken by CT scanning. After extracting the coordinates of key points of some pictures by the procedure, we used a C program to process the useful data, and constructed a platform of the three-dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body with the Ansys software for finite element analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental results showed that the platform of the three-dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body was more accurate and applicable. The exact three-dimensional shape of model was well constructed, and each part of this model, such as one single tooth, can be deleted, which can be used to emulate various tooth-loss clinical cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three-dimensional finite element model is constructed with life-like shapes of dental cusps. Each part of this model can be easily removed. In conclusion, this experiment provides a good platform of biomechanical analysis on various tooth-loss clinical cases.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Lu-Lu
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zu-Quan
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo-Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008334:Mandible; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed