Stress Analyses of Retrograde Cavity Preparation Designs for Surgical Endodontics in the Mesial Root of the Mandibular Molar: A Finite Element Analysis-Part I.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various apical preparation designs for surgical endodontics on stress concentrations in the mesial root of the mandibular molar under different experimental conditions using finite element analysis. METHODS: We designed 2 apical preparation groups according to whether an isthmus was present or not. Each group contained 4 subgroups according to the size of the apical preparation. We constrained the displacement of all nodes at the base of the supporting bone and applied a force of 150 N to the vertical axis. We analyzed stress generation and concentrations numerically for the groups and subgroups. RESULTS: In the subgroups, the von Mises and maximum principal stresses reduced gradually according to the enlargement of the prepared cavity. However, when the preparation extended excessively in the isthmus preparation groups, the situation reversed (ie, both von Mises and maximum principal stresses increased). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the apical preparation design influenced the distribution of stress concentration. Unlike the overall pattern in which stress decreased as the amount of apical preparation increased, stress increased when the amount of residual dentin was extremely thin.