Biomechanical behavior of indirect composite materials: a 3D-FEA study
<p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the elastic modulus of indirect composite resins (ICR) in the stress distribution of a restored maxillary first premolar. <strong>Material and methods:</strong> A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the tooth and the mesial-occlusal-distal (MOD) restoration was created. Three ICR were simulated, by changing the elastic modulus: 10, 15 and 20 GPa. All materials were considered as isotropic, homogeneous and linearly elastic. An occlusal load (200 N) was applied on occlusal surface trough a sphere, and the nodes of the external surface of the root were fixed. The maximum principal stresses on the tooth and restoration were analyzed. <strong>Results:</strong> According to FE analysis, the lower the ICR elastic modulus, the higher the stress values generated on the remaining tooth. For the restoration, the opposite was observed: the lower the modulus, the lower the stress. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> With the limitations of this study <span style="text-decoration: underline;">it </span>is possible to conclude that the greater the elastic modulus of the restorative material the harder it will be to deflect the cusps, but the easier the fracture of the resin.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Finite Elements Analysis; Composite Resin; Indirect Restoration; Flexural Strength.</p>