Stress Trajectory Variations During Occlusal Loading in Human Skull with a Maxillofacial Defect: A Finite Element Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Biting forces from the teeth are distributed to the facial bones and to the skull through the stress trajectories. The presence of a bony defect in either the maxilla or mandible might lead to variations in the stress distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution and variations in stress trajectories from biting forces in a human skull with maxillofacial defect using a finite element (FE) model. METHODOLOGY: In this study, a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of an adult male patient with a maxillectomy defect consequent to surgical treatment of mucormycosis is evaluated for the stress distribution from the biting forces of the remaining posterior teeth. Finite element model without the mandible was constructed from the patient's CBCT data. Occlusal loading forces of 600 N were applied on each side of the maxillary teeth. Stress trajectories were visualised through the stress distribution pattern. RESULTS: The results showed deviations in the normal stress distribution during occlusal loading and variations in zygomatic and pterygoid stress trajectories in the maxillofacial and skull regions in our FE model due to the bony defect. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a skeletal maxillofacial defect should be reconstructed to resume proper stress distribution during functional forces to maintain a healthy craniofacial skeleton.