OBJECTIVEThe theory of strain energy density (SED) was combined with finite element analysis to investigate alveolar bone remodeling of the mandibular first molar with different levels of periodontal attachment under mastication loading.

METHODSThree-dimensional finite element models of the mandibular first molar with different levels of periodontal attachment were established. Based on SED theory, the user material subroutine (UMAT) (used by ABAQUS software) was developed by ourselves to simulate the remodeling process of mandibular bone. The stress distributions and bone density changes were analyzed under different mastication loading. The influence of loading magnitude on alveolar bone remodeling with different levels of periodontal attachment was investigated.

RESULTSThe results showed that the neck of buccal, lingual regions and root apex area experienced a higher stress. The stress and the density of alveolar bone increased gradually with the enhancing of the bite force at the beginning. Then the density would appear declining when the bite force exceeded the extreme load. The extreme load reduced from 420 N to 240 N with the periodontal attachment falling from normal to 1/2 of root length also. And the remodeling rate of the bone was faster as the loading increasing.

CONCLUSIONThe capability of the periodontal tissue for supporting the teeth will drop gradually as the periodontal attachment level dropping. And the decline of bone density also appeared in earlier time. The change of density is associated with mastication loading during the bone remodelling. And reducing the occlusal force properly to the molar with different attachment level is benefit for clinical treatment and prognosis of periodontal disease.