title: Endodontic access cavity simulation in ceramic dental crowns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is proposed that a non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) based solid geometric model of a ceramic crown would be a flexible and quick approach to virtually simulate root canal access cavities. The computation of strain components orthogonal to surface flaws generated during the drilling would be an appropriate way of comparing different access cavity configurations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A μCT scan is used to develop a full 3D NURBS geometric solid model of a ceramic crown. Three different access cavity configurations are created virtually in the geometric model and there are then imported into proprietary finite element software. A linear analysis of the each crown is carried out under appropriate in vivo loading and the results are post-processed to carry out a quantitative comparison of the three configurations
  
  
  RESULTS
  The geometric model is shown to be a flexible and quick way of simulation access cavities. Preliminary indications are that post processed strain results from the finite element analysis are good comparators of competing access cavity configurations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The generation of geometric solid models of dental crowns from μCT scans is a flexible and efficient methodology to simulate a number of access cavity configurations. Furthermore, advanced post-processing of the primary finite element analysis results is worthwhile as preliminary results indicate that improved quantitative comparisons between different access cavity configurations are possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuddihy
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: Francis M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Noel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelliher
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003442:Crowns; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing; D008954:Models, Biological; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C508050:IPS e.max Press; C501891:Tetric EvoCeram; C493120:lithia disilicate; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C023506:Glass ceramics