Finite element analysis of stresses on adjacent teeth during the traction of palatally impacted canines.

Objective: To evaluate stresses on maxillary teeth during alignment of a palatally impacted canine (PIC) under different loading conditions with forces applied in vertical and buccal directions.

Materials And Methods: A three-dimensional finite element model of the maxilla was developed from a cone beam computed tomographic scan of a patient with a left PIC. Traction was simulated under different setups: (1) palatal spring extending from a transpalatal bar (TPB) anchored on the first molars (M1) and alternatively combined with different archwires (0.