MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DENTAL

MATERIALS

UNDER THE ABLE

GUIDANCE OF:
DR RAVI DWIVEDI
DR. N.K GUPTA
DR.SWATI GUPTA
DR. AMRIT TANDAN • SEMINAR PRESENTED BY:
DR. GARIMA AGGARWAL VIRENDRA VIKRAM SINGH
DR. MANOJ UPADHYAY JR1 , PROSTHODONTICS
DR. SULABH
• Properties are descriptions of a materials
interactions with the energy in its environment.
• The four common material property categories
are Physical,Mechanical,Chemical &
BiologicProperties.

• Mechanical properties are defined by the laws

of mechanics i.e the physical science that deals
with Energy & Forces and their effects on
bodies.Thus all mechanical properties are
measures of the resistanceof a material to
deformation or fracture under an applied
 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MECHANICAL PROPERTY
AND STRENGTH
• MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF A MATERIAL ENSURES
THAT PROSTHESIS SERVES ITS INTENDED
FUNCTIONS EFFECTIVELY,SAFELY AND FOR A
REASONABLE TIME PERIOD.
 STRESS
• When a force acts on a body to produce
deformation a resistance develops to this
external force which is called stress.

• Mathematically: Stress(S)=force/area.Stress is
expressed as LOAD/AREA i.e
Pounds/ square of inch=PSI or newton/square
of mm=MPa.
DIGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION OF BONY
TRABECULAE ALIGNMENT IN STRESS
TREJECTORIES TO BETTER PREPARE THE FEMUR
TO RESIST THE VARIETY OF FUNCTIONAL FORCES
 TYPES OF STRESS
• Based on forces acting on the specimen-
• Simple stress -Tensile stress ,Compressive
stress ,Shear stress.
• Complex stress-flexural stress.
• Based on temperature changes on the
specimen
• Thermal stress.
 COMPRESSIVE STRESS-
• If a body is placed under a load that tends to
compress or shorten,the internal resistance to
such a load is called a compressive stress and
it is associated with a compressive strain.
• Mathematically,calculated by dividing the
applied force by the cross sectional area
Perpendicular to the direction of applied
force.
 TENSILE STRESS
• A tensile stress is caused by a load that tends
to stretch or elongate a body.A tensile stress is
always accompanied by a tensile strain.Tensile
stress is generated when structures are
flexed.
• Mathematically, denoted by (𝝈)=tensile
force /area
• Example-in clinics a sticky candy can be used
to remove crown by means of a tensile force.
 SHEAR STRESS-A shear stress tends to resist
the sliding on a portion of a body over another.
It can be produced by a twisting or torsional
action on a material.
• Mathematically, shear stress is calculated by
dividing the force by the area parallel to the
force of direction.
 
FLEXURAL (BENDING STRESS)
• Is Mathematically defined as force per unit
area of a material subjected to flexural
loading.E.g-When a patient bites in to an
object, the anterior teeth receive forces that
are at an angle to their long axis,creates
flexural stress.
• Tooth flexure( strain with in tooth structure)-
Tooth flexure are either a lateral bending(as
shown in figA or an axial bending of a tooth
during occlusal loading(as shown in fig b). This
flexure produces the maximum strain in
cervical region, the strain appear to be
resolved in tension or compression with in
local regions, sometimes causing loss of
bonded class V restorations.
.
 
SOME NOTEWORTHY POINTS 
• Mechanical properties of a material describe
its response to loading.
• Most clinical situations involve complicated 3-
D loading situations,it is common to describe
the load in terms of a single direction
(Compression,shear ,tensile).
• Combinations of these can produce
TORSION(twisting) or FLEXION(transverse
bending).
• During loading bonds are not compressed as
easily as when they are stretched.
• Materials resist compression readily and are
stronger in Compression than in Tension.
• As loading continues ,structure is ultimately
deformed.
• Mechanical events are both temperature &
time dependent, as the temperature increases
the mechanical property values decrease.The
stress-strain curve appears to move to the
right & downward.
• As the rate of loading decreases ,the
mechanical properties decrease called STRAIN
RATE SENSITIVITY.
CLINICAL IMPLICATION: To momentarily make
a material’s behaviour stiffer strain it quickly.
For recording undercut areas in an elastic
intraoral impression remove it rapidly so that
it will be more elastic & accurately record the
dimensions of the structures
 STRAIN Is defined as change in length per unit
initial length.
• Strain is deformation( per unit of length(L)
i.e 𝜺 = ∆L/L
• Is expressed in inch/inch or cm./cm.
THE STRESS -STRAIN CURVE
• With a constant increase in loading, the
structure is ultimately deformed
• At first the deformation (strain) is reversible –
ELASTIC STRAIN.
• With increased loading, there is some
irreversible strain which results in permanent
deformation-PLASTIC STRAIN.
•  
ELASTIC STRAIN
• THE deformation that is recovered upon
removal of an externally applied force or
pressure.
PLASTIC STRAIN
The deformation that is not recoverable when
an externally applied force is Removed

• The point of onset of plastic strain is called

the Elastic limit( proportional limit, yield
point).
• It is indicated on stress-strain curve as the
point at which the straight line starts to
become curved.
• Continuing the plastic strain leads to Fracture.
• The highest stress before fracture is the
Ultimate Strength
 ELASTIC LIMIT of a material is defined as the
greatest stress to which a material can be
subjected to, such that it returns to its original
dimensions when force is released.
• Material that undergo extensive plastic
deformation before fracture are called
Ductile( in tension) and Malleable(in
compression)
• Materials that undergo very little plastic
deformation are called Brittle.
 
• ELASTIC LIMIT of a material is defined as the
greatest stress to which a material can be
subjected to, such that it returns to its original
dimensions when force is released.
• Material that undergo extensive plastic
deformation before fracture are called
Ductile( in tension) and Malleable(in
compression)
• Materials that undergo very little plastic
deformation are called Brittle.
 
 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES BASED ON ELASTIC
DEFORMATION
Elastic modulus(Youngs modulus ,Modulus of
elasticity)
• It describes the relative stiffness or rigidity of a
material which is measured by the slope of the
elastic region of the stress strain graph.
• It represents the amount of strain produced in
response to each amount of stress.
• Elastic modulus has a constant value that does
not change and it describes the relative
stiffness of a material.
• Elastic modulus of Enamel is higher than that of
Dentin.
• Depending on the area of the tooth its value may be
3 to 7 times.
• ENAMEL is STIFFER AND more BRITTLE than dentin.
• Dentin is more flexible & tougher and is capable of
sustaining significant plastic deformation under
compressive loading before it fractures.
• Mathematically,E=STRESS/STRAIN= (F/A)/ ∆l/l
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• When a load is applied to a tooth it is
transmitted through the material giving rise to
stresses and strain. If these exceed the
maximum value the material can withstand , a
fracture results.
 CLINICAL APPLICATION
• THE MOST USEFUL properties of a restorative
material are Modulus of elasticity(E) & Elastic
limit.
• A restorative material should be very stiff so
that under load, its elatic deformation should
is minimal.
• An exception to this in class V Composites are
used-they should be less stiff to accommodate
for tooth flexure.
• When selecting a restorative material the
clinician must bear in mind the stress level
during function.This should not exceed the
elastic limit,lest deformation occurs which may
cause failure at some point of time.
 RESILIENCE
• Popularly the term resilience is associated with
“springiness”.
• Def: Resilience can be defined as the amount of
energy absorbed within a unit volume of a structure
when it is stressed to its proportional limit.
• The resilience of two or more material can be
assessed by comparing the areas under the elastic
region of their STRESS STRAIN PLOTS.
• For example- A proximal inlay cause excessive
movement of the adjacent tooth if large
proximal strain develops during compressive
loading on occlusal table.
• Restorative material should exhibit a
moderately high elastic modulus& relatively
low resilience.
• TOUGHNESS- IS THE TOTAL AREA UNDER THE
STRESS –STRAIN CURVE.
 STRENGTH PROPERTIES-
• Is the stress necessary to cause either
fracture(ultimate strength) or a specified
amount of plastic deformation(yield strength).
• Strength of a material can be described by –
1) PROPORTIONAL LIMIT-The stress above
which stress is no longer proportional to
strain.
 
2)ELASTIC LIMIT- The maximum stress a
material can withstand before it becomes
plastically deformed.
3) YIELD STRENGTH OR PROOF STRESS-The
stress required to produce a given amount of
plastic strain.
4)ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH, SHEAR
STRENGTH,COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH &
FLEXURAL STRENGTH entity is a measure of
stress required to fracture a material.
STRENGTH is not a measure of individual atom
to atom attraction or repulsion but rather is a
measure of the interatomic forces collectively
over the entire wire,cylionder,implants,crown,
pin or whatever structure is stressed.
 PROPORTIONAL LIMIT-
• On plotting a stress strain diagram, with
material obeying hooks law the elastic stress
will be proportional to elastic strain.
• In such material stress-strain diagram starts
from origin O as a straight line ,along this line
the material behaves elastically and it springs
back to its initial shape & size when the force
is removed.
• When stress value corresponding to point P is
exceeded, the line becomes nonlinear and
stress is no longer proportional to strain.

• The stress value at P, the point above which

the curve digresses from a straight line is
known as the proportional limit .
 ELASTIC LIMIT-
• EL of a material can be defined as the greatest
stress to which a material can be subjected
such that it returns to its original dimensions
when the force is released.
• If a small tensile stress is induced in a wire ,the
wire will return to its original length on load
removal, on increasing the load incrementally &
then releasing after each increase in stress , a
stress value will be reached at which the wire
does not return to its original length after it is
unloaded, this point the wire has been stressed
beyond its elastic limit.
 YIELD STRENGTH( PROOF STRESS)-
• YIELD STRENGTH is a property that represents
the stress value at which a small amount of
plastic strain has occurred.
• A value of 0.1 or 0.2% of the plastic strain is
often selected and is referred to as the %
offset.
• If yield strength values for two materials
tested under the same conditions are to be
compared, identical offset values should be
used.
To determine the Yield Strength FOR A MATERIAL AT
0.2 % OFFSET ,a line is drawn parallel to the
straight line region starting at a value of
0.002(0.2%) of the plastic strain along the strain
axis and is extended until it intersects the stress
strain curve.
• Stress corresponding to this point is the yield
strength.
• STRESS-STRAIN PLOT for dental ceramics(a brittle
material) is a straight line with no plastic
region,hence is not practical at (0.1 or 0.2% strain
offset since there can be no intercept of straight
line offset parallel to the elastic deformation line.
 
PERMANENT PLASTIC DEFORMATION-
• If material A is deformed by a stress at a point
above the proportional limit before fracture ,
the stress reduces to 0 numerically on removal
of applied force, on the contrary strain does
not decrease to 0 since the plastic deformation
has occurred.
• Hence the object does not returns to its
original dimension when the force is removed
 COLD WORKING( Strain hardening or Work
hardening)
• When a metal is stressed beyond its
proportional limit the hardness & strength of
metal increase at the area of deformation but
the ductility of metal decreases .
• As DISLOCATIONS MOVE & PILE up along grain
boundaries further plastic deformation in these
areas become more difficult.
• As a result repeated plastic deformation (in
orthodontic wire bending,clasp arm
adjustment on a R.P.D can lead to
BRITTLENESS AND SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE
ON FURTHER adjustment (key to minimise the
risk of reduced plasticity(EMBRITTLEMENT) is
to deform the metal in small increments so as
not to plastically deform the metal excessively.
 DIAMETRAL TENSILE STRENGTH-
• Tensile strength is determined by subjecting a
rod, wire or dumbbell shaped specimen to
tensile loading(uniaxial tension test.).
• DIAMETRAL COMPRESSION TEST MEASURES
THE DIAMETRAL TENSILE STRENGTH.
• D.C.T IS MEANT FOR MATERIAL that exhibit
predominantly elastic deformation and little or
no plastic deformation.
• TENSILE STRESS for such a specimen is
computed by,
• TENSILE STRESS= 2 P/∏DT where,
• P= applied load, d=diameter,t =thickness
• FLEXURE STRENGTH(TRANSVERSE STRENGTH
OR MODULUS OF RUPTURE)For a bar
subjected to 3-point flexure (upper central
loading).
• Mathematically for computing flexture
strength WHERE,
• 𝝈=flexure strength, l= the distance between
the supports, b= width of the
specimen,d=depth or thickness of the
specimen,p= max. Load at the point of fracture
• UNIT of the stress in s.i unit is( MPa).
• For ceramic(a brittle material) flexure tests are
preferred to the diametral compressive stress.
 FATIGUE STRENGTH
• STRESS values well below the ultimate tensile
strength can produce premature fracture of a
dental prosthesis because microscopic flaws
grows slowly over many cycles of stress this is
called FATIGUE FAILURE.
• A standard Engineering design limit for dental
restorative materials is approx. 10 million
cycles or approx. 10 years of intraoral
service( working surfaces of teeth are
mechanically cycled approx 1 million times per
year.
MAX.SERVICE STRESS OR an ENDURANCE
LIMIT- The max. Stress that can be
maintained without failure over an infinite
number of cycles, for brittle material with
rough surfaces the endurance limit is lower
than a highly polished surface.
STATIC FATIGUE- a phenomena attributed to
the interaction of a constant tensile stresswith
structural flaws over time.For e.g Prosthetic
appliances,ceramic orthodontic brackets,
activated wires with in the brackets.
 DYNAMIC FATIGUE FAILURE-The delayed
fracture of molar CERAMIC CROWNS that are
subjected to periodic cyclic forces are caused
by dynamic fatigue failure.
• In a nutshell,the failure begins as a flaw that
propagates until catastrophic fracture occurs.
•  
DENTAL BIOMECHANICS-
• Biomechanics is the study of the physical
behaviour of the biologic structures and the
interactions between biologic & restorative
systems.it is the application of mechanics to
biologic systems.
• The biomechanical behaviour of a restored tooth
is of immense significance to the clinician. A
standard biomechanical unit involves1) tooth
structure,restorative material,interfacial zone.
• In normal tooth loads are transmitted to dentin
through Enamel.
• Dentin undergoes a small amount of
deformation.(tooth flexure.).this amount of
strain is proportional to the amount of load
applied on the tooth.
• A restored tooth transmits stress differently,
ENAMEL IS NOT CONTINIOUS & its resistance
is lowered, therefore restoration be designed
in a manner in which STRESS is distributed to
the denrtin rather than ENAMEL.
 
OTHER MECHANICAL PROPERTIES-
HARDNESS-
• In mineralogy the relative hardness of a
substance is based on its ability to resist
scratching.In most other disciplines the
concept of HARDNESS is ‘RESISTANCE TO
INDENTATION’.
• Tests most frequently used in determining the
hardness of dental materials are BRINELL,
ROCKWELL,VICKERS ,KNOOP,BARCOL,SHORE.
• BRINELL TEST- A hardened steel ball is pressed
under a specified load in to the polished
surface of a material, load is divided by the
area of the projected surface of the
indentation & the quotient is called BHN. THE
smaller the indentation larger is the BHN NO.
This test is used in DENTISTRY for determining
hardness of metals & metallic materials.
 ROCKWELL HARDNESS TESTS- A STEEL BALL
OR CONICAL DIAMOND POINT ,The depth of
penetration is measured directly by a dial
gauge, a number of indenting points with
different sizes are available.RHN IS designated
according to particular indenter & load
applied.
• Above two tests are not suitable for brittle
materials.
 VICKERS HARDNESS TESTS-A square based
pyramid is used , VHN is calculated by dividing
the load by the projected area of the
indentation.VHT IS USED FOR determining
hardness of DENTAL CASTING GOLD ALLOYS.VHT
Is suitable for determining brittle materials.
KNOOP HARDNESS TEST- Employs a diamond
tipped tool. Impressions is rhombic in outline &
length of largest diognal is measured. The area is
divided in to to the load to yield KHN.
• The knoop & Vickers are MICROHARDNESS
TESTS( Indentations are in the order of less than
19µ & EMPLOY LOADS LESS THAN 9.8 N. BRINELL
& ROCKWELL are MACROHARDNESS TESTS.
• BRITTLENESS- Is the relative inability of the
material to sustain plastic deformation before
fracture of a material occurs.
• Below are 3 stress strain curves-
• A brittle material fractures at or near its
proportional limit.( as seen in material C. A
brittle material is not necessarily week(the
tensile strength of In –ceram alumina is 450
MPa but 0% elongation.
 DUCTILITY & MALLEABILITY-
• When a structure is stressed beyond its
proportional limit it becomes permanently
deformed.if a material sustains tensile stress
and considerable permanent deformation
without rupture it is called DUCTILE.
• Materials that undergo extensive plastic
deformation before fracture are called
DUCTILE( IN TENSION ) OR MALLEABLE IN
COMPRESSION.
• GOLD Is the most ductile and malleable pure
metal & silver holds 2nd rank.
 
STRESS ANALYSIS-
• Is an engineering discipline that determines
the stress in materials & structures subjected
to static or dynamic forces or load.
• Aims & objective- To determine whether the
structure can safely withstand the specified
forces ,objective is achieved when the
determined stress from the applied forces is
less than the U.T.S,ultimate compressive
strength or fatigue strength the material is
known to withstand.
 STRESS ANALYSIS OF DENTAL RESTORATION-
• Mechanical properties of a material used in
dental restoration must be able to withstand
stress & strains caused by the repetitive
forcesof mastication. It is mandatory to use
design that don’t result in stresses & strain
that exceed the strength properties of dental
material under clinical conditions.
 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE-
• HOPPENSTAND & Mc CONNEL used a model
simulation to study the mechanical failure of
class 1 type Amalgam restorations.MAHLER
ET AL used a similar technique to investigate
design aspects of class two restorations.
TECHNIQUES USED FOR STRESS ANALYSIS-
1)THEORITICAL- Use mathematical
formulation & solution of the resultant
equations.e.g FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS.
2)EXPERIMENTAL – Involves measurements of
various types made directly on the structures
of interest.e.g STRAIN GAUGE,
PHOTOELASTICITY.
Finite element analysis model of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) stress. (a) Three-dimensional finite
element mesh of the TMJ, including the mandible, disc (i), cartilage (ii), condyle (iii), and coracoid
process (iv), with the mandible angle fixed (v) and alveolar ridge loaded by two-dimensional occlusal
force vectors (vi). (b) State of stress in an orthotropic element. Each of the three material axes was
assigned a value for the elastic modulus ( ), and each of the three planes defined by those axes
received values for the shear modulus ( ) and Poisson’s ratio ( ). Thus, one principle stress ( ) and two
shear stress ( ) values could be calculated from each plane of the element. 1, 2, and 3 indicate the
same corresponding directions as in Figure 1. (c) Twenty-nine observation points map the TMJ for
stress value collection.
 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS-(RICHARD
COURANT,1943)
• Is a computer simulation technique used in
engineering analysis. It uses a numerical
technique called Finite Element Method.FEA is
commonly used for the determination of
stresses & displacements in mechanical
objects & systems.It has the advantage of
being applicable to solids of irregular
geometry & heterogenous material properties,
hence ideally suits to examine the structural
behaviour of teeth.
 HOW DOES FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
WORK?
• FEA uses a complex system of points called
nodes , which make a grid called a mesh. The
mesh is programmed to contain the material
& structural properties which define how the
structure will react to certain loading
conditions.
• Nodes are assigned at a certain density
throuhout the material depending on the
anticipated stress levels of a particular
area.regions that will receive large amount of
stress usually have a higher node density yhan
those which experience little or no stress.
• stress area. The mesh acts like a spider web,
whereby in each node there extends a mesh
element , this web of vectors is what Points of
interest consist of: fracture point of previously
tested material, corners ,complex detail & high
stress area.
 PRE-PROCESSING STEPS IN FINITE ELEMENT
ANALYSIS-
• is the 1ST step in FEA , whereby construction of
a finite element model of the structure to be
analysed is made. This can be 1-D ,2-D or 3-D
form modeled by line , shape or surface
representation(3-D models are mostly used) ,
objective of the model is to realistically
replicate the important parameters &
features of the real models in to small
elements.
• The simplest mechanism to achieve modelling
similarity in structural analysis is to utilize
preexisting digital blueprints, design files,CAD
models & by importing that in to FEA
environment after the creation of finite
element geometric model a meshing
procedure is used to define & break up the
model in to small elements.
• A finite element model is a mesh network
made up of the geometric arrangement of
elements and nodes.NODES REPRESENT
POINTS at which features as displacement are
calculated. Elements are bounded by set of
nodes &define localised mass & stiffness
properties of the model.
 NEXT STAGE IS ANALYSIS( COMPUTATION OF
THE SOLUTION)-
• The FEM coducts a series of computational
procedures involving applied forces & the
properties of the element which produce a
model solution.such a structral analysis allows
determination of effects as DEFORMATIONS,
STRAIN, STRESSES caused by applied structural
load
 NEXT STAGE IS- POST PROCESSING
(VISUALISATION)-
• THESE results can be studied using visualisation
tools within the FEA environment to view and to
fully identify implications of the
analysis.numerical & graphical tools allow the
precise location of the data such as stresses &
deflections to be identified.VISUALISATION-
results can be studied by the visualisation tools
with in FEA based computers.to view & identify
the implications of the analysis, Numerical &
Graphical tools are used.these tools allow the
precise location of the data such as STRESSES &
DEFLECTIONS.
• RESULTS OF FEA- FEA predicts failure of
material which results due to unknown
stresses by showing their problem areas, this
method of product design & testing is far
superior to the manufacturing costs that
would accrue if each sample was actually built
& tested.
 DIFFICULTIES IN USING FEA IN DENTISTRY-
• The difficulty involved in obtaining the M.P of
the tooth’s constituent materials viz-ENAMEL,
DENTIN, CEMENTUM & PULP.
• EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE FOR STRESS
ANALYSIS-By STRAIN GAUGE &
PHOTOELASTICITY.
• STRAIN GAUGE- (Edward E. simmons & Arthur
c.ruge, 1938)
• A STRAIN GAUGE is a device used to measure
deformation ( strain ) of an object. The most
common strain gauge consists of an insulating
flexible backing which supports a metallic foil
pattern,the gauge is attached to the object by
a suitable adhesive. A strain gauge is a long
length of conductor arranged in a zigzag
pattern on a membrane.
• When it is stressed its resistance increases ,
strain gauges are mounted in the same
direction as the strain and often in
fours to form a full Wheatstone bridge.
• STRAIN GAUGE use the principle that when a
certain electrical resistance is subjected to an
object, it produces strain.TENSION produces an
increase in resistance; compression causes a
decrease in resistance,therefore, if such a
strain gauge were bonded to the surface of a
structure under a load , monitoring the
resistance changes would yield knowledge of
the strain characteristic at the point.
 PHOTOELASTIC STRESS ANALYSIS-
• PSA is based on the property of some
transparent materials to exhibit colourful
patterns when viewed with polarised
light.These pattern occur as the result of
alteration of the polarised light by internal
stresses into two waves that travel at
different velocities
• The pattern that develops is consequently
related to the distribution of the internal
stresses & is called PHOTOELASTIC
EFFECT.PREREQUISITE- model of the structure
of interest be fabricated in right dimension &
proportions model be made from transparent
material exhibiting a photoelastic response.
Stress developing in model due to applied load
can be visualised by examining model with
polarising filter.
 AUTOMATED PHOTOELASTIC STRESS
ANALYSIS-
• AUTOMATED PHOTOELASTICITY uses a
computer to calculate principal strain
differences & directions without the need to
count the fringes or rely on the subjective
interpretation of fringe colours.Photoelastic
coating allow for full field strain
measurements to be made on structure under
load.analysis involves bonding a special plastic
coating on to the structure, shining polarised
light on to the plastic & analysing the resultant
images.
• ADVANTAGES-STRESSES can be determined in
models of complicated 3-D shapes such as the
oral structures therby facilitating the location
& magnitude of stress concentration. Stresses
from complex loading conditions as forces of
mastication & forces produced by restorative
appliances can also be determined.P.S.A has
facilated the design of complicated structures
& machinery& has wide application in
dentistry.
 2-D PHOTO ELASTIC STRESS ANALYSIS OF
TRAUMATIZED INCISOR-
• In this study stress of traumatised incisor &
effect of stress on tooth & alveolar bone was
studied with 2-D photoelasticity,
2 homogenous ,2-D maxillary central incisor
model were prepared,loads were applied to
the labial side of incisal edge & middle third of
crown at angles of 45° & 90°,it was observed
that stress was increased on teeth & alveolar
bone when load was applied 90° on labial side
of incisal edge
 FINITE ELEMENT STRESS ANALYSIS OF A
NORMAL TOOTH-
• Enamel presents a similar behaviour to
ceramics, being a fragile material & crystalline
(Hydroxyapatite crystals).
• Anisotropic characteristic of enamel.( Enamel
is thought to have highly anisotropic stiffness
characteristics, because of its prismatic
structure. It is probable that the enamel is
stiffer in the prism direction compared with a
direction perpendicular to it. The prisms are
thought to run approximately perpendicular to
the enamel-dentin junction.)
• SPEARS(1993) & LAS CASAS(2003) presented
difference of Enamel’s mechanical behaviour
when submitted to occlusal loads depending
on the load directions in relation to the
Enamel.
• Motta et al analysed the influence of Enamel
anisotropy on stress distribution on sound
tooth.In order to describe the results paths
were created.
• Results showed that there is a difference in
stress distribution between the Isotropic &
Anisotropic enamel model.
 FEA ON A MANDIBULAR PREMOLAR-
• Normal mastication generates considerable
reactionry stresses in teeth & supporting
tissue.
• Enamel is assumed to be Isotropic , has
greater stiffness over that of dentin.
• The masticatory forces tend to “flow” around
the Enamel cap although the dentin core
remain lightly stressed.This is the cause for
Isotropic or orthotropic Enamel under single or
two point loading.
• Enamel near the DEJ is highly stressed because
the reacted forces have to flow in to & through
this thin wedge of tissue for them to be
transmitted in to the root of the tooth.
• Therefore evident that restorations inserted in the
cervical region of tooth can be subjected to direct
contact stresses of mastication, this may be
reason for pain in cervically placed restoration.
• Under masticatory type loading high stresses are
generated in fissure.Tensile stresses tend to pull
Enamel prism apart in this region & thereby assist
the attack by caries in the fissures of premolar &
molar teeth on the initiation of chemical
demineralisation of Enamel has been initiated.
• The model is divided in to a number of
triangles, the smaller triangles are located in
areas of great interest.
• The ability of various types of cement bases to
support the Amalgam was also studied.The
stress induced in amalgam restoration was 4-5
times higher when the Amalgam was
supported by 2mm ZnO Eugenol base as
compared with an equal thickness of Zinc
phosphate cement base.
• The fracture of the amalgam is influenced
more by the modulus of elasticity of the base
material than by the compressive strength of
base.Hence the cement base must have the
modulus of elasticity equal to that of
restorative material.
 TEETH WITH DIRECT COMPOSITE RESTORATION-
• In vitro analysis was done in teeth with Class one
cavity preparation by using different axial wall
inclinations(convergent or parallel) & by inserting
composite resin.
• Teeth were sliced in the middle & the defects on
the tooth restoration interface were measured
based on it 2-D model was designed for each
cavity. The objective of this study was to evaluate
the influence of axial wall inclinations in relation
to defect presence & stress distribution when
submitted to occlusal loading.
• Stress analysis technique are invaluable for
manufacturers of dental material as they help
in evaluating critical stress levels, they help in
evaluating the MP of dental materials under
lab conditions & also give a 3-D view.
 REFERENCES:
• PHILLIPS SCIENCE OF DENTAL MATERIALS
• STURDEVANTS ART & SCIENCE OF OPERATIVE
DENTISTRY
• ORTHODONTICS PRINCIPLES & PRACTICE
• INTERNET