Search

Background: The increase in the occlusal contact area can generate significant stresses on the occlusal surface of a natural tooth as well as the cervical region and in the alveolar crest around this same tooth edge. Objective: The objective of this study was to study the influence of the increase of the occlusal contact area on the tension generation on a molar tooth and adjacent structures by three-dimensional finite element models. Methods: A tridimensional model composed of an inferior molar tooth and surrounding structures was fabricated, and a load of 100 N was applied over the occlusal surface on pre-set regions according to an ideal occlusal standard that was previously defined for the study. The diameters of the contact spots on the tooth were increased gradually and varied from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. The generated tension over those contact spots was analyzed and quantified on pre-set regions of the occlusal marginal crest: the cervical region and the alveolar crestal bone. Results: The results showed that occlusal contact diameter causes a decrease in the tension level of 33.8% on the marginal crests, a decrease of 20.7% on the alveolar rim interface, and an increase of 44.1% on the cervical region, near the cement enamel junction. Conclusion: The occlusal contact diameter on the tooth surface had an influence on the tension generated on all analyzed regions.