Study on finite element modeling approach of mandible with full dentition based on CBCT images / 实用口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore an efficient method for the establishment of 3D finite element model based on CBCT images. Methods: Mandible of a male volunteer was scanned by CBCT, and the resulting DICOM data was used for 3D reconstruction in Mimics17 software. Then with the. stl format file, the result of 3D reconstruction was imported into Geomagic Warp 2015, in which 3D models consisting of triangular patches for dentition, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone were created. With free meshing algorithm, the 3D finite element model of mandible with full dentition consisting of 10-node tetrahedron elements was obtained under the constraint that the maximum inner angle was set to be 25°. Results: The 3D finite element model for human mandible with full dentition was established. The total number of nodes is 299286, the elements number for dentition, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone are105805, 122427 and 577529, respectively. Conclusion: The proposed method can be used for the establishment of 3D finite element model of mandible with full dentition based on CBCT images, and it has the merits of good stability, high precision and wide application compared with the traditional modeling method.