Method: The geometry of the dentoalveolar structure of a beagle dog was virtually created using Micro computed tomography images. The dog had been subjected to an in-vivo pilot study on the application of LIPUS for the repair of OIIRR. The geometry only included the vicinity of one of the third premolars on which a 1.5 MHz LIPUS (with the intensity of 30 mW/cm2) was applied buccally in the pilot study. The propagation of the LIPUS in the virtual geometrical model was computationally simulated using the finite element method.
Result: The finite element simulation demonstrated that different stress magnitudes were induced on the root surface, especially on lingual surface of the root. This confirmed the hypothesis that the repair of root cementum depends on the magnitude of induced-stresses. Additionally, the simulation predicted a significant decrease in the LIPUS power on lingual gingiva; this power attenuation was validated as it was in agreement with the direct measurement of the power in the in-vivo studies.
Conclusion: This study showed that finite element simulation is a useful tool to predict the stress distribution and the power attenuation due to LIPUS propagation in dentoalveolar structure. This in turn can potentially reveal some correlation between LIPUS and its biological effects on dental tissue formation.