Evaluating orthodontic force system in clinical condition with a numerical method

The aim of this paper is to quantitatively evaluating orthodontic force system during orthodontic treatment with a numerical method. Dental cast models were made to obtain digital models with impressions of a patient’s dental arch at regular intervals. Then the displacement of each bracket for a period of time was obtained by computer aided inspection. The finite element model of archwire in free status and brackets engaged in archwire was built. With the derived displacements applied as the boundary condition, the orthodontic force system at a time point was derived by a finite element analysis. The error of this method, especially the influences of friction and material of archwire on the orthodontic force system were discussed at last. This method can quantitatively evaluate the orthodontic force system generated from elastic material in clinic condition, the deformation history of archwire need to be traced for the orthodontic force generated from shape memory alloy.