[Development of a mandibular model for evaluating and optimizing the design of osteosynthesis materials using finite element analysis].

The present study was designed to investigate biomechanical and clinical changes in the mandibular complex by means of finite element analysis. An analytical model developed from human native mandibles was used for this model, CT image data were transferred to a computer, and an edge extraction program generated the cross-section of bone by specifying a range of CT values for each slice. Pixel data from the CT scan were converted into a vector of points (x, y, z) which can specify the boundaries of bone. Lateral surfaces are defined by stacking up the slices and making use of the vectorized data. The constructed model was used as input data for the finite element analysis. The models were solved for stresses and forces. The highest principal stresses occurred at the bite point, anterior aspects of the coronoid processes, symphyseal region, and right and left sides of the mandibular corpus. For further investigation muscular structures have to be integrated to establish a model, which can be analysed under multivariate aspects.