FEM analysis of different dental root canal-post systems in young permanent teeth

Aim Aim of this work was to carry out a comparative evaluation of the structural behaviour of different root canal posts (cylindrical, conical and triple conical) fitted in a second lower bicuspid and subjected to compression and bending test. Materials and methods This study has been carried out by numerical method of structural analysis of finite elements (FEM, Finite Element Method). Different tridimensional models were obtained by CAT images of an extracted tooth, endodontically treated, filled with guttapercha and triple conical glass post. Images have been elaborated by a software for images (Mimics and Ansys) and CAD (Rhinoceros 3 D). In the models a II Class restoration has been virtually created. In the numerical simulation dental tissues (enamel, dentine and root cement), guttapercha, root canal cement, different posts, different techniques of cementation and crown restoration (composites and adhesive systems) have been considered. Results Strain distributions in dental tissues, in root canal cement and in posts have been compared. The equivalent tensions and the single components (traction, compression and cut) have been analysed. In all examined posts, the most strained part is resulted the coronal one, even if the total tension, in the different tooth-post analyzed systems, resulted uniformly distributed. A similar behaviour was shown by the root canal cement. Conclusions According to the analyzed conditions of bond and load, varying according to the geometry of the considered posts, our results confirm that there is no substantial difference of deformation in posts, root canal cement and treated tooth.