Authors: Shahindah Shah
Mousetrap appliance is an effective treatment modality for anterior open bite that utilizes implants inserted into the anterior palate and brings about open bite correction by intruding the maxillary molars. This is a finite element study that assesses the stress contours around maxillary molars and in the periodontal ligament of the maxillary molars when they are intruded by a mousetrap appliance. Materials and Methods: A finite element model of the maxilla and the mousetrap appliance made of 288332 elements and 64771 nodes was generated using software tools like MIMICS and HYPERMESH. A simulated force of 100 grams was applied to the maxillary molar through the appliance and the stress contours were assessed. Results: Maximum tensile stress was observed at furcation region of the PDL and was around 4.49e-3 MPa (0.00449MPa) whereas maximum Von-Mises stress was observed at cervical region on both the lingual and buccal side which was around 2.06e-2MPa (0.0206MPa). Conclusion: It is therefore concluded that the mousetrap appliance which exerts a force within the range of recommended force for molar intrusion generates stress contours around the maxillary molar and in the periodontal ligament of the maxillary molar. Keywords: TADs molar intrusion mousetrap appliance.
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