Objective To develop a method to construct a three- dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body of a normal person. Methods A series of pictures with the interval of 0.1 mm were taken by CT scanning. After extracting the coordinates of key points of some pictures by the procedure, we used a C program to process the useful data, and constructed a platform of the three- dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body with the Ansys software for finite element analysis. Results The experimental results showed that the platform of the three- dimensional finite element model of the dentulous mandibular body was more accurate and applicable. The exact three- dimensional shape of model was well constructed, and each part of this model, such as one single tooth, can be deleted, which can be used to emulate various tooth- loss clinical cases. Conclusion The three- dimensional finite element model is constructed with life- like shapes of dental cusps. Each part of this model can be easily removed. In conclusion, this experiment provides a good platform of biomechanical analysis on various tooth- loss clinical cases.
