Funding entity Universidad Pontificia Comillas
One of the current challenges in oral and dental biomechanics is the study and development of materials used in treatments and prostheses, such as implants, crowns, and occlusal veneers, through an understanding of the loads to which biological tissues are subjected.
The objective of this project is twofold: firstly, to identify the crack thresholds under chewing and bruxism loads in the first premolars and molars, considering both healthy teeth and those subjected to endodontic treatments, through computational simulation and experimental validation; and secondly, to assess the risk of fracture of commercial single-phase dental implants during their insertion and their subsequent structural behavior under chewing and bruxism loads. Additionally, a computational model of the structural response in single-phase dental implants is developed and validated.
Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project in the fields of biomechanics and health sciences, it has a marked social character. This is rooted in improving the well-being and oral health of individuals through the search for more effective dental practices. The risk of dental fracture and structural failure of single-phase dental implants represent two significant issues in the field of dental treatments. It is estimated that approximately 80% of dental pieces subjected to dental treatment tend to be extracted or fractured within the following decade. Furthermore, single-phase dental implants, which have recently emerged in clinical practice, are known to present a high risk of fracture starting from the second year after placement.
Thus, identifying the mechanisms of dental fracture and single-phase dental implants allows for better clinical evaluation of patients and the selection of personalized, precise, and less invasive dental treatments, with the goal of extending the lifespan of the treated tooth as much as possible. Additionally, the structural analysis of single-phase dental implants helps assess the suitability of this type of prosthesis, as well as potential improvements in geometric design, biomimetic features, and the materials used.
Layman's summary: One of the current challenges in oral and dental biomechanics is the study of materials and prosthesis designs, such as implants and crowns, considering the loads on tissues. This project aims to identify crack thresholds in premolars and molars under chewing and bruxism loads, and to assess the risk of fracture in single-phase implants through simulation and experimental validation.
Techniques employed: Finite element computational simulation. Experimental testing of structural strength to cyclic fatigue.
DENTIN
