Numerical analysis of tooth movement in different plans of transparent tooth correction therapies.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate how treatment strategies in the same treatment affected the canine's initial displacement and the stress in periodontal ligament using three-dimensional finite element analysis. And to find out the way to design an effective treatment plan. METHODS: Based on computed tomography images of the teeth and their supporting tissues, solid models were used to build finite element models. Three treatment plans of three different transparent tooth correction therapies finite element-analyses were operated. RESULTS: The canine's initial displacement and stresses' distribution in periodontal ligament were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: For rotation movement, the canine should rotate along tooth long axis, and not combine with other kinds of tooth movement as possible. For translation movement, the combination of translation and inclination movement is helpful for the treatment.