Estimation of Individual Bite Force during Normal Occlusion using

FEA
Dattatraya Parle

Dhairyasheel Desai

Ankita Bansal

Principle Consultant
Engineering Services,
Infosys Limited, Pune, India

Engineering Analyst
Engineering Services,
Infosys Limited, Pune, India

Engineer
Engineering Services,
Infosys Limited, Bangalore

Abstract
Bite force can be defined as the force applied by the masticatory muscles in dental occlusion. Bite force is the resultant of all
the forces acting on individual teeth due to various components of the masticatory system. Knowledge of individual bite force
helps dentist to understand different type of dentition, the mechanics of mastication for evaluation of the therapeutic effects of
prosthetic devices and to provide reference data for studies on the biomechanics of prosthetic devices. Currently, there are
direct and indirect methods to determine bite force. Direct method includes use of suitable transducers and indirect method
includes use of functional relationship between bite force and physiological variables. The bite force is a function of many
factors and hence difficult to compute. Although direct methods are accurate and convenient to determine individual bite force
which requires sophisticated instrumentation and intervention whereas indirect methods are not accurate and require
investigation of many physiological parameters. However, it is difficult to establish exact mathematical model to estimate
individual bite force. This paper presents a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based indirect method to estimate bite force.
Commercial FEA softwares like HyperMesh and RADIOSS are widely used in engineering and the biomedical community for
diverse applications. FE model is built using 3D CAD model of jaw created using CT scan images to estimate theoretical
maximum bite force as well as individual tooth load.

Keywords: Jaw modeling, Bite Force, FEA

Abbreviations:
CAD Computer Aided Design
CT Computerized Tomography
FEA Finite Element Analysis
STL Stereo Lithography

CAE Computer Aided Engineering

DICOM Digital Imaging and Communications in
Medicine
FEM Finite Element Method
VM Stress Von Mises Stress

Introduction
Chewing or Occlusion, in a dental context is phenomenon of interaction of mandible and maxillary
teeth, bones, and muscles. This process is also called as mastication and the force acting during this
process is known as masticatory force or biting force [1]. This force is created by the dynamic action
of the masticatory system during the physiological act of chewing. Bite force is divided in two main
groups with physiological or pathological condition. The physiological force is again divided into three
different subgroups according to their localizations, anterior, general (covering the entire arch) and
posterior part of arch [2]. Fig. 1 shows human jaw maxillary and mandible teeth with anterior as well
as posterior region. Bite force is important and has influence on masticatory system in dentistry.
Moreover, knowing bite force helps to formulate an ideal treatment plan for masticatory muscles [3].
Analysing bite force gives information on facial morphology and the type of mechanics to the
orthodontist. Hence, knowledge of individual bite force helps dentist to understand different type of
dentition, the mechanics of mastication for evaluation of the therapeutic effects of prosthetic devices
and to provide reference data for studies on the biomechanics of prosthetic devices [4].

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Fig. 1 Human jaw anatomy

Currently, there are two types of bite force measurement techniques available i.e. direct and indirect.
Direct techniques include use of suitable transducer that can be placed between a pair of teeth. This
direct method of bite force measurement appears to be convenient way to measure the submaximal
force. An indirect method includes use of functional relationship between bite force and physiological
variables as these variables are known to be functionally related to the bite force [5]. Different
researchers have found a wide range of maximum bite force values. The great variation in bite force
values depends on several physiological and pathological factors of the person. Apart from these
factors, there are parameters associated with measuring techniques such as mechanical
characteristics of the bite force recording system and linear or polynomial relationship of functional
variables [6]. Although direct methods are accurate and convenient to determine individual bite force
but it would require sophisticated instrumentation and intervention whereas indirect methods are not
accurate and require investigation of many physiological parameters. However, it is difficult to
establish exact relationship to estimate individual bite force. This paper presents a Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) based indirect method to estimate bite force. Due to complex nature of dental
structures, Finite Element Method (FEM) based techniques can be effective in dentistry. The first use
of FEA in the orthopaedic biomechanics can be found in 1972 [7].Since then, in the last two decades
there is tremendous increase in use of FEA tools due to advancement in computational techniques
using commercially available tools such as HyperMesh, RADIOSS, ANSYS, Abaqus, LSDYNA, etc.
Initial FEA studies in dentistry were performed using 2D models [8-10]. Recently, researchers started
using detailed three-dimensional FE models in dentistry [11-12]. Moreover, there have been many
FEA studies which presented modelling and analysis of complete human jaw [13-15] for structural
analysis. These FEA models are simplified and considered only one jaw i.e. mandible for linear or
non-linear static analysis. Moreover, literature review indicates that there are no FEA based studies to
estimate bite force using impact analysis of maxillary and mandible. Hence, the objective of this paper
is to model actual 3D human jaw using CT scan images and FE analysis using HyperMesh and
RADIOSS to perform impact analysis to estimate contact force. Contact force is used as a measure of
bite force. HyperMesh and RADIOSS are capable of discretization and obtaining exact solution for

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complex structures like human jaw. Fig. 2 shows overall procedure used in this work to estimate bite
force.

Figure 2: Overall approach used in the present study to estimate bite force

Process Methodology
Typical FE-analysis for impact analysis of jaw involves following steps:
Geometric modelling: This step involves creation of geometric representation of maxillary and
mandible jaw. In present study, 3D model produced using DICOM images and is validated with
actual jaw dimensions. This jaw model is exported using STL format.
Meshing: This step involves sub-division of geometric model in discrete elements. The resulting
set is called mesh. HyperMesh provides various options to produce 3D mesh on STL format of
jaw model.
Materials, properties and LBCs (Loads and Boundary Conditions): In this step, material, element
properties along with loads and boundary conditions defined on discretized model of human jaw
in HyperMesh.
Impact Analysis: In this step FEA solver RADIOSS is used to perform impact analysis of jaw. For
impact analysis top maxillary jaw is fixed whereas 30 mm/s chewing velocity is applied to
mandible. Chewing velocity is actually measured and used in this analysis.
Visualization of the results: This step involves visualization of various results such as VM stress
and contact forces. These results are compared with literature results.
In this study complete jaw is produced using DICOM images. Performing different image processing
operations CAD model is generated and exported as STL format. Fig. 3 shows series of DICOM
images from CT scan for human mouth and CAD model produced using same. CAD model shows
half of the jaw.

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(a)
(b)
Figure 3: (a) Series of DICOM images from CT scan for human jaw (b) CAD model of jaw
Geometrical dimensions are validated against actual jaw dimensions by measuring key dimension.
CAD model dimensions are almost matching to actual dimensions of tooth. Table 1 shows
comparison of dimensions. Similarly major dimensions of major tooth are also compared to ensure
correctness of overall CAD model. Fig. 4 shows major dimensions and its physical
hysical measurement on
actual dental mould. Dental mould is produced from plaster of paris.
paris

Figure 4: Definition for jaw dimensions and its physical measurement

Alveolar Length
Molar Tooth Row (mm)
Tooth Row (mm)
Maxillary Tooth Row (mm)
Length along Median Line (mm)
Width of Jaw (mm)

Table 1: Comparison of key dimensions of jaw

Actual
28
58
64
60
54

Generated of CT images
28.30
58.60
65.20
59.0
59.00
53.4
53.40

STL format of CAD model is imported in HyperMesh

Hyper
for further processing and impact analysis using
RADIOSS. STL (Stereo Lithography) is a file format native to the CAD software and is widely used in
dentistry. This file format is supported by HyperMesh.
Hyper esh. STL files describe only the surface geometry of
a three dimensional object without any other common CAD model attributes. As STL model is not
suitable to carryout 3D FE analysis on jaw. Hence surfaces are created from available triangulated
mesh data to generate solid (volume). Then solid jaw is meshed with tetrahedral elements. There are
33626 tetra elements in each jaw model.
model. It is highly impossible to achieve perfect quality parameters

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for mesh generated for such complex geometry. However, reasonably good quality parameters are
maintained in the model in order to get quality results. The materials properties of jaw are used from
past literature [16-17] and given in Table 2. Cartilage is neglected in this study. Fig. 5 shows meshed
model of mandible with material assignment.
Teeth

Cancelleous
Bone

Cortical Bone

Figure 5: Meshed model of mandible with 3D tetra mesh in HyperMesh

Part
Cotical Bone
Cancelleous Bone
Teeth

Table 2: Mechanical properties of premolar tooth [16-17]

Material Property
Youngs Modulus (MPa)
14.7
0.49
17.6

Poissons Ratio
0.3
0.3
0.25

Fig. 6 shows loads and boundary conditions on jaws for impact analysis. Chewing speed or velocity of
30 mm/s is applied to mandible whereas maxillary jaw is fixed at top. Chewing speed is actually
measured by observing chewing mechanism. Contact is defined using Type7 for RADIOSS solver.
Type 7 is used to define contact between slave nodes and master solid elements. Both bodies are
deformable.

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Rotation centre of
Mandible

Fixed support

Velocity direction
Figure 6: Loads and boundary conditions

Results & Discussions

There are several factors which affect bite force such as Cranio-facial morphology, Age, Gender,
Periodontal support of teeth, Dental status, etc [18]. Present study investigates effect of jaw
alignment on bite force within the framework of FEA using impact analysis. FE model built in
HyperMesh is solved using RADIOSS solver and various results are obtained for following three
cases:
Case 1 - Properly Aligned Jaw
Case 2 - Receding Lower Jaw
Case 3 - Protruding Lower Jaw
Table 3 shows FE model for three different cases along with VM stress plots and bite forces in
three different jaw systems. It is observed that in case of receding lower jaw case maximum stress
with value 84.10 MPa is induced whereas protruding lower jaw has minimum stress with value
65.18 MPa. Literature reports ultimate strength approximately 105 MPa [19] compressive strength
range from 275 to 300 MPa [20] for dentine structures. Induced stress in the jaw bones during
impact analysis is well below the material limits. In most of the cases stress distribution is more
uniform in lower jaw than upper jaw as observed in present study.
Similarly contact force is maximum in receding lower jaw arrangement. The maximum bite force
reported is 573.70 N. Receding jaw arrangement is most common case observed across human
beings and is believed that it is most suitable case for chewing action as this arrangement
produces maximum bite force. Waltimo and Kononen recorded bite force in healthy adults (15 men
and 15 women) using quartz force transducer in the laboratory. They observed that the bite force
varied greatly from individual to individual as it depends on many factors. When measuring
maximal bite force, the vertical opening of the jaws in the molar region is about 14 mm. They
reported the mean maximal bite force value in the molar region 847 N for men and 597 N for
women [21].Present study considers chewing speed for healthy adults with jaw opening at incisor
tip as 25mm. Results obtained using FEA based impact analysis appears to be in agreement with
literature results qualitatively validating usability of this novel approach.

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Table 3: Arrangement of jaw system and results of impact analysis

Case

Jaw Alignment

VM Stress (MPa)

Contact
Force or
Bite Force
(N)

Properly
Aligned Jaw

104.70

Receding
Lower Jaw

573.70

Protruding
Lower Jaw

109.30

This study presents indirect method to estimate bite force. Within the framework of FEA some of
the parameters affecting bite force cannot be incorporated such as age, gender, pathological
conditions, etc. Hence, proposed methodology presents qualitative measurement of bite force.
There are benefits using this methodology. Dentist can make use of stress distribution pattern for
better treatment for correcting jaw/tooth anomalies. For example in the present study molar tooth is
weak at the root hence stress is not uniformly distributed within jaw bones during chewing action.
Peak stress is observed at the root of tooth as shown in Fig. 7.This study also helps to estimate
patient specific tooth load distribution. This will help to understand loaded and unloaded teeth. Fig.
8 shows typical contact force plot for properly aligned jaw case. In this case bite force is distributed
in among molar, pre-molar and incisors. The understanding of tooth load distribution helps dentist
to understand different type of dentition and provides reference data for studies on the
biomechanics of prosthetic devices.

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Figure 7: Weak teeth and peak stress location

Figure 8:Distribution
8:
of bite force on different teeth

Conclusions
The main conclusions of the current study are:
Successfully presented indirect method to estimate bite force within the framework of FEA for
impact analysis
ysis using HyperMesh and RADIOSS.
RADIOSS Impact results are in agreement with trend of
literature results qualitatively.
qualitatively
Proposed methodology uses patient specific accurate three-dimensional
three mensional CAD model reproduced
from DICOM images and used this model for impact analysis for three different jaw alignment
conditions.
Present study confirms that receding jaw is most common case observed across human beings
and is believed that it is most suitable case for chewing action as this arrangement produces
maximum bite force.
There are additional benefits using this methodology. Dentist can make use of stress
distribution pattern for better treatment for correcting jaw/tooth anomalies. For example
exampl in the
present study molar tooth is weak at the root hence stress concentration is observed in that
location

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This study also helps to estimate patient specific tooth load distribution. The understanding of
tooth load distribution helps dentist to understand different type of dentition and provides
reference data for studies on the biomechanics of prosthetic devices.
Use of FEA tool for such complex geometry and complex loading conditions overcomes the
limitations of experimental and analytical approaches used for bite force estimation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors acknowledge contribution of Dr Ravi Kumar GVV for his valuable guidance. Authors thank
Anirudha Ambulgekar and Ruchin Pandey for their help and valuable inputs during this work. Authors
also acknowledge support of Mr Devaraja Vaderahobli Holla and Mr Avinash Patil during this work.
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