Effects of linear elastic vs. hyper-viscoelastic PDL and uniform vs. nonuniform alveolar bone models on dental biomechanics: a finite element analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of linear elastic vs. hyper-viscoelastic periodontal ligament (PDL) models and uniform vs. nonuniform alveolar bone models on dental biomechanics. Four teeth (incisor 31, canine 43, premolar 45, and molar 36) were subjected to 1 N of force in the distal, lingual, labial, and mesial directions, respectively. The simulations indicated that when the PDL was modeled as hyper-viscoelastic, maximum stress decreased by an average of 68.93%, whereas maximum strain increased by an average of 530.02%. This study quantified the effects of different material models on dental biomechanics and provides guidance for finite element modeling.