Automated finite element modeling of a human mandible with dental implants

This paper presents an automated procedure to generate a three-dimensional finite element model of an individual patient’s mandible with dental implants inserted. The reconstruction of the geometry as well as the modeling of the material properties for the different types of bone in the jaw is based on CT data. For this purpose various methods of image processing, geometric modeling and finite element analysis are combined and extended. Special emphasis is given to the automated assignment of the material properties based on the density values of the CT data, a technique that replaces the geometric modeling of the inner structures of the bone and makes it possible to run the generation process of the model in an automated way. Finally we focus on a comparison of a mandible with different material modeling strategies that shows the quality of the finite element models.