Isotropic continuum damage/repair model for alveolar bone remodeling

Several authors have proposed mechanical models to predict long term tooth movement, considering both the tooth and its surrounding bone tissue as isotropic linear elastic materials coupled to either an adaptative elasticity behavior or an update of the elasticity constants with density evolution. However, tooth movements obtained through orthodontic appliances result from a complex biochemical process of bone structure and density adaptation to its mechanical environment, called bone remodeling. This process is far from linear reversible elasticity. It leads to permanent deformations due to biochemical actions. The proposed biomechanical constitutive law, inspired from Doblaré and Garcيa (2002) [30], is based on a elasto-viscoplastic material coupled with Continuum isotropic Damage Mechanics (Doblaré and Garcيa (2002) [30] considered only the case of a linear elastic material coupled with damage). The considered damage variable is not actual damage of the tissue but a measure of bone density. The damage evolution law therefore implies a density evolution. It is here formulated as to be used explicitly for alveolar bone, whose remodeling cells are considered to be triggered by the pressure state applied to the bone matrix. A 2D model of a tooth submitted to a tipping movement, is presented. Results show a reliable qualitative prediction of bone density variation around a tooth submitted to orthodontic forces.