title: "Anatomical simulation" of the biomechanical behavior of the human mandible.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The load-carrying behavior of the human mandible can be described using finite element simulation, enabling investigations about physiological and pathological skeletal adaption. "Anatomical simulation" implies a stepwise approximation towards the anatomical reality.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project is structured in three steps. In Step 1, the preprocessing, the simulation model is provided. Step 2 is the numerical computation. Step 3 is dedicated to the interpretation of the results. The requirements of the preprocessing are: a) realization of the organ's individual anatomy, namely its outer shape; b) the tissue's elastic properties, thus its inner consistency; and c) the organ's mechanical loads. For physiological mandibular loading, these are due to muscles, temporomandibular joints, and tooth forces. Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the macroscopic anatomy from computed tomography data is standard. The periodontal ligament is inserted ex post using an approach developed by the authors. The bone is modeled anisotropically and inhomogeneously. By the visualization of the individual fiber course, the muscular force vectors are realized. The mandibular condyle is freely mobile in a kind of simplified joint capsule. For the realization of bite forces, several approaches are available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An extendible software tool is provided, enabling the user - by variable input of muscle and bite forces - to examine the individual patient's biomechanics, eg, the influence of the periodontal ligament, the condition of the temporomandibular joints, atrophic processes, or the biomechanical situation of dental implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By stepwise approximation towards the anatomical reality, the mandibular simulation will be advanced to a valuable tool for diagnosis and prognosis.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kober
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stübinger
authors.forename: Hans-Florian
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zeilhofer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sader
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001732:Bite Force; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology