Stress analysis in non-carious cervical lesions using in silico modeling: failure prediction and implications for clinical interventions

• Grant number: 24/10069-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: June 23, 2025
• End date: June 22, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Regina Guenka Palma-Dibb
• Grantee: Bruna Santos Honório Tonin
• Supervisor: Mutlu Ozcan
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/10876-7 - STUDY OF DIAGNOSIS, CHARACTERISTICS AND PROGRESSION OF THE NON-CARIOUS CERVICAL LESIONS, BP.PD

Abstract

Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are pathological conditions characterized by the loss of tooth structure that are unrelated to dental caries. Given the increasing prevalence of these conditions among young people, there is a need for better understanding of NCCLs to enable early diagnosis, allowing for the best type of intervention and individualized treatment yielding to improved dental health and quality of life. This study aims to analyze the interaction between biomechanical factors in the etiology and progression of NCCLs. The distribution and concentration of stresses will be examined to determine if the occlusal factor alone is sufficient to cause microfractures in the enamel in the cervical region of the tooth. Through intraoral scanning of patients with and without NCCLs, three-dimensional (3D) models with different occlusal arrangements will be created for finite element stress analysis (3D-FEA). Evaluations of stress distributions in the dental arches will be conducted during simulated centric and eccentric clenching. The force applied by the opposing dentition, based on clinical average values, will be integrated into the study. Additionally, the behavior of restorative materials on the lesions will be investigated using the same methodology to predict failures and assess the effectiveness of treatment. This approach could guide the development of more effective and personalized treatments for patients with NCCLs, considering biomechanical variables and restorative materials in use.