Purpose: This study used the 3D finite element (FE) method to evaluate the mechanical behavior of a maxillary central incisor with three types of dowels with variable heights of the remaining crown structure, namely 0, 1, and 2 mm.
Materials and Methods: Based on computed microtomography, nine models of a maxillary central incisor restored with complete ceramic crowns were obtained, with three ferrule heights (0, 1, and 2 mm) and three types of dowels (glass fiber = GFD; nickel‐chromium = NiCr; gold alloy = Au), as follows: GFD0 – restored with GFD with absence (0 mm) of ferrule; GFD1 – similar, with 1 mm ferrule; GFD2 – glass fiber with 2 mm ferrule; NiCr0 – restored with NiCr alloy dowel with absence (0 mm) of ferrule; NiCr1 – similar, with 1 mm ferrule; NiCr2 – similar, with 2 mm ferrule; Au0 – restored with Au alloy dowel with absence (0 mm) of ferrule; Au1 – similar, with 1 mm ferrule; Au2 – similar, with 2 mm ferrule. A 180 N distributed load was applied to the lingual aspect of the tooth, at 45° to the tooth long axis. The surface of the periodontal ligament was fixed in the three axes (x = y = z = 0). The maximum principal stress (σmax), minimum principal stress (σmin), equivalent von Mises (σvM) stress, and shear stress (σshear) were calculated for the remaining crown dentin, root dentin, and dowels using the FE software.
Results: The σmax (MPa) in the crown dentin were: GFD0 = 117; NiCr0 = 30; Au0 = 64; GFD1 = 113; NiCr1 = 102; Au1 = 84; GFD2 = 102; NiCr2 = 260; Au2 = 266. The σmax (MPa) in the root dentin were: GFD0 = 159; NiCr0 = 151; Au0 = 158; GFD1 = 92; NiCr1 = 60; Au1 = 67; GFD2 = 97; NiCr2 = 87; Au2 = 109.
Conclusion: The maximum stress was found for the NiCr dowel, followed by the Au dowel and GFD; teeth without ferrule are more susceptible to the occurrence of fractures in the apical root third.