Bone is a complex system with adaptation and repair functions. To understand how bone cells can create a structure adapted to the mechanical environment, we proposed a simple bone remodeling model, iBone, based on a reaction-diffusion system [1]. A 3-dimensional mandibular bone model consisting of approximately 1.4 million elements was constructed from sequential computer tomography (CT) images of a 14-year old female. Both teeth and bone were modeled with
isoparametric voxel elements with Young's Modulus = 20 GPa and Poisson's ratio = 0.3. Both heads of the mandible were fixed allowing rotation and horizontal movement. Teeth were fixed vertically allowing horizontal movements. Incisor, right/left group, and right/left molar biting conditions were simulated. The locations and directions of muscles, and their forces were predicted from the CT
images. Remodeling simulation was performed by 10 sets of finite element method analysis and reaction-diffusion remodeling simulation to obtain internal structure adapted to each loading condition. As a result, the major part of the corpus of the simulated mandibular bone showed similar internal structures under different biting conditions. Moreover, these simulated structures were satisfactorily similar to that of the real mandible. Computer simulation of three-dimensional bone
structures based on CT images will be very useful for understanding the patho-physiological state of bone under various mechanical conditions, and may assist orthopedic doctors to predict the risk and efficacy of surgical therapies.