Maxillary expansion treatment using bone anchors: development and validation of a 3D finite element model

OBJECTIVE: Develop a finite element (FE) model of a skull to perform biomechanical studies of maxillary expansion using bone anchors (BA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A skull model was developed and assigned material properties based on Hounsfield unit (HU) values of cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) images. A 3 mm diameter cylindrical BA was modelled and inserted in the palatal bone. A 4 mm transverse displacement was applied on the anchor. An evaluation on the effect on local stresses of BA implantation inclination angle was performed. RESULTS: Proper displacement results and strain-stress trends for the expansion process were present. Stress distribution patterns were similar as reported in the literature. No significant difference between BA inclination angles was found. CONCLUSION: This work leads to a better understanding and prediction of craniofacial and maxillary bone remodelling during ME with BA treatments and is a first step towards the development of patient specific treatments.