Optical Stereometric Analysis of An Experimental Partially-Edentulous Mandible
Abstract Background: Stereooptics method have been successfully used in biomechanical studies of models of dental and jaw bone tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate, by optical stereometry, the distribution of occlusal loads, depending on the functional deformities, on casts of a partially-edentulous lower jaw without copings as well as on the dedicated copings and the remaining solid tissue under the copings.Material and Methods: Precise measurement of strain and displacement of partially-edentulous mandibular control and experimental casts were provided by the digital image correlation method and software ARAMIS which determined the shape of the photographed object with high accuracy, its dimensions, field of three-dimensional (3D) movements, vector of distorted field and features of the biomaterial. Simulated loads were in the range between 0 and 1000 N.Results: Displacements and deformations of abutment teeth within the control cast of a partially-edentulous mandible were 0.48% for incisor without coping, 10.29% for canine without coping and 6.64% for premolar without coping, and within the experimental cast of a partially-edentulous mandible they were 0.29% for incisor with coping, 7.007% for canine with coping and 4.98% for premolar with coping.Conclusions: When loading the abutment teeth, the distribution of strain through the remaining tooth substance is specific and various, and abutment teeth covered by protective copings are more resistant to loads.