Analysis of Extreme Thermal Variations in the Oral Cavity of a Patient with a Fixed Metallic Orthodontic Appliance Using the Finite Element Method

Several decades after the development of FEM in computer-based form, which is a milestone in the evaluation of mechanical systems, the method has been adopted to analyze the biomechanical response of human skeletal structures. This innovative technique has generated new questions, but also new results, and, at the same time, competitive environments with explosive development, in the recent period. This research is focused on analyzing, using FEM, the extreme thermal variations produced at the level of two oro-facial systems (one control and one subjected to orthodontic therapy using a fixed metallic orthodontic appliance). Each system was exposed to a succession of extreme thermal regimes (70...-18...70...⁰C and -18…70…-18...⁰C). In order to conduct this research, we used the case of a 14-year-old female patient. Following an orthodontic evaluation, we discovered that the patient had dento-alveolar disharmony with crowding. The straight-wire method of applying a fixed metallic orthodontic appliance was chosen. As complementary examinations, the patient was subjected to a bimaxillary CBCT. Using a series of programs (InVesalius, Geomagic, SolidWorks and AnsysWorkbench), a three-dimensional model was obtained. This model contained the jaws and teeth. Also, brackets, tubes and orthodontic wires can be incorporated into the model. Following the simulations carried out in this study, it can be observed that thermal variations from the dental pulp are more severe for the oro-facial system with a fixed metallic orthodontic appliance (regardless of the type of thermal stimulus used).