Introduction

The study assessed the correlation between mobility and the tensions in the injured tooth after it was splinted using an orthodontic wire and a composite with the number of splinted teeth and the wire diameter.

Material and methods

Simplified geometric models of the alveolar crest of the maxilla and teeth (with avulsed and splinted left central incisor) were constructed using computer software. The tooth displacement and mechanical stress were assessed for different wire diameters (0.4-1.0 mm) for both three and five splinted teeth.

Results

With three immobilised teeth, the displacement ranged from 83.31 μm for 0.4 mm diameter wire to 81.78 μm for 1 mm wire; with five immobilised teeth from 83.36 μm for a 0.4 mm wire to 81.93 μm for a 1 mm one. Stress on the injured teeth was around 14.28 MPa for a 1 mm wire and 14.52 MPa for a 0.8 mm wire for three splinted teeth.

Conclusions

According to the finite element method, the use of a different diameter (0.4-1.0 mm) of stainless steel orthodontic wire after replantation of the maxillary central incisor did not cause any considerable changes in tooth micromovements or stress. Also, it is enough to splint the injured tooth with two neighbouring teeth since there were no considerable differences with two additionally splinted teeth.