Investigation of Different Miniscrew-Supported Mesialization Protocols with Finite Element Analysis

Background: To examine the force and stress distributions caused by two different mesialization methods in dentoalveolar structures in cases of congenital bilateral maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) with finite element analysis (FEA). Materials and Methods: Two different models were created using FEA. In both models, miniscrews were placed in the palatal region. In the first model, 450 g of force was applied to the miniscrews over the transpalatal arch with the aid of elastic chain. In the second model, the central teeth and miniscrews were connected by using a minimum anchorage unit and 450 g of force was applied to all teeth with the aid of elastic chain over the archwire. For both models, von Mises stress, maximum and minimum principal stresses, and displacement values were recorded. Results: In the first model, the maximum Von Mises stress was observed in the cervix of the miniscrews due to the direct application of the force to the miniscrews. In the second model, the stress was not as intense as in the first model since the force was not applied directly. The greatest displacement was observed in the maxillary first molars in the first model and in the canines in the second model. Compressive and tensile stresses were observed in the maxillary anterior teeth in the second model due to the effect of the elastic chain, while the tensile stress in the maxillary anterior teeth in the first model was almost zero. The amount of transverse and sagittal displacement in the maxillary teeth was higher in the second model compared to the first model. Conclusion: The maximum stress was in the miniscrews in the first model and in the maxillary anterior teeth in the second model. The greatest displacement was observed in the first molars in the first model and in the canines in the second model. Key words: Finite element analysis, congenital maxillary lateral incisor agenesis, mesialization, miniscrew