Study of stress distribution and displacement of the maxillary complex following application of forces using jackscrew and nitanium palatal expander 2--a finite element study.

UNLABELLED: The stress distribution patterns within the maxillary complex during the expansion by slow maxillary expansion plate and Nitanium palate expander 2 was analyzed.

OBJECTIVE: This comparative study was done using a finite element model of a young maxillary bone. The model was generated using the data from computerized tomographic scans of a dried maxillary bone. The model was then strained to a dimensional pattern of displacement and stress distribution for the two appliances.

RESULTS: This present study showed the maximum lateral displacement for jack screw by 0.170 mm at the region of cusp tips of posteriors indicating a tipping movement. Whereas NPE2, showed maximum displacement of 0.004 mm corresponding to maxillary molars. Concentration of stress distribution ranging from 343.42 N/mm2 to 412.60 N/mm2 for 0.5 mm of expansion was significantly depicted at the palatal bone beside the central incisors for jack screw, when compared to NPE2 which depicted low magnitude of stress ranging from 7.78 N/mm2 to 9.08 N/mm2 uniformly distributed along the midpalatal suture.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggests that NPE2 appliance basically an orthodontic appliance however is capable of producing mild to moderate orthopedic changes in maxilla.