Establishment And Application Of Finite Element Analysis Computer System For Craniofacial Morphology

The research work on craniofacial morphology had long relied on RCM. RCM, however, had its methodologically insurmountable limitations: the results achieved by RCM was relyed on coordination selection and relative to fixation point and datum plane; it failed to identify the structural change of craniofacial region in size and shape resulting from growth and orthodontic treatment and many clinical changes were thus concealed. Since the introduction of the finite element method(FEM) into stomatologic field,it had been widely and successfully applied to the biomechanic study in fields of oral prosthesis, dentofacial surgery and orthodontics. FEM, first introduced by Bookstein into morphologic study of craniofacial growth, promised broad prospects of application in biomorphologic research. But at present used in most of researches was the structural analysis finite element soft ware kit commonly used in engineering. Its high specialization in engineering made it difficult for general doctors to operate independently. In addition, these soft wares were mainly used for mechanic analysis, but not always applicable to morphologic analysis in craniofacial growth and development, clinical diagnosis and evaluation of results of orthodontic treatment. Therefore, this study was intended to establish a special computer software system for finite element analysis of two-and three-dimensional craniofacial structure and applied the system to the investigation of growth and development of...