ANALYSIS OF A CENTRAL MAXILLARY INCISOR BY USING A 3-DIMENSIONAL FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD

An attempt is made for determining the stress distribution in a maxillary central incisor by using a three-dimensional finite element model. The tooth is assumed isotropic, homogeneous, elastic and unsymmetrical. A load of 450 N, 26-degrees to the longitudinal axis is applied on the incisal margin of the tooth. The distribution of compressive, tensile and shear stresses were plotted for the whole tooth structure. It is found that cracks or fractures occur under thc given load