ISSN 1812-5123. Russian Journal of Biomechanics. 2015. Vol. 19, No. 1: 69-78
DOI: 10.15593/RJBiomech/2015.1.07
REGION OF RESISTANCE OF TOOTH:
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION
А.L. Dubinin
Department of Theoretical Mechanics and Biomechanics, Perm National Research Polytechnic University,
29 Komsomolskii Prospect, 614990, Perm, Russia, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract. In order to study the initial tooth movement, the concept of the center of
resistance was introduced. Properties of this point are: if the applied force system is
reduced to the single force with the line of action passing through the center of
resistance, then the tooth will start to move translationally; if the applied force system is
reduced to the force couple, then the tooth will rotate around this center. Later, it was
shown that the center of resistance exists at the exceptional conditions (existing of the
axis of symmetry for the root of the tooth). Therefore, in cases where there is no center of
resistance, a new concept “region of resistance of the tooth” was introduced. The region
is called the region of resistance of a tooth with the minimal diameter at possessing the
following properties: any line of translational action passes through this region and
through any point of this region passes some line of translational action. It has been
shown that region of resistance can be an ellipse, two points, and one point. In presented
study, the method of finding the region of resistance for the particular case was
developed by two approaches: 1) finding the set of all lines of translational action;
2) analytically. The relation between the region of resistance and tooth root shape was
established experimentally. Also, the transition from one type of region of resistance to
other was shown by varying geometrical parameters of the body. Some properties of
certain types of region were investigated. Another case of the existence of the center of
resistance was shown, which has not been considered earlier.
Key words: center of resistance of tooth, region of resistance of tooth, dentition,
orthodontic tooth movement, experimental determination.
INTRODUCTION
Where and how the force should be applied to move the teeth into the desired location? This
question is crucial at orthodontic treatment. It is very difficult to give an answer because it is
necessary to consider a number of factors affecting this process: the reaction of tissues
surrounding tooth, their individual mechanical properties, complex physiological processes,
characteristics of the device having force influence, set device features and other [3, 10, 11].
In this article, the question of initial tooth movement is considered. Model is accepted
as follows (typical for most of the works on this theme [1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13]): Tooth
surrounded by periodontal ligament is treated as perfectly rigid body immersed in linear
elastic medium at the stable equilibrium state. At the applied force system, tooth has small
movements within the alveolar pit. For the studying of initial tooth movement, definition of
center of resistance is used often. It was introduced in 1917 [6]. The point is called the centre
of resistance of a tooth if it possesses the following properties: any line of translational action
passes through this point and any line that passes through this point is the line of translational
action. The value and direction of force applied to tooth do not affect on location of center of
© Dubinin А.L., 2015
Aleksei L. Dubinin, Post-Graduate Student of Department of Theoretical Mechanics and Biomechanics, Perm
А.L. Dubinin
а
b
c
Fig. 1. Regions of resistance types: а is ellipse; b is two points; c is one point;
black line is line of translational action, gray point is point of region of
resistance
resistance, but tooth root form and elastic properties of surrounded medium do. It is also
known, that the conditions of the center of resistance existence are limited by strong
restrictions, such as the existence of the axis of symmetry of the tooth root [3]. It is possible to
use the definition of center of resistance if tooth is considered as idealized axisymmetric body.
But for the deeper studying, new idea is necessary.
The work [4] gave corresponding generalization and this is “region of resistance of a
tooth”. The region is called the region of resistance of a tooth if it has the minimal diameter at
possessing the following properties: any line of translational action passes through this region
and through any point of this region passes some line of translational action. It exists always
and saves main properties of center of resistance. It is shown that the region of resistance may
be the set of points forming an ellipse, two, or one point (Fig. 1).
Type of region of resistance in Fig. 1, a corresponds to general case of tooth root
form. Every possible line of translational action is necessarily passes through any of points of
region of resistance (ellipse of minimal diameter). Types of region of resistance in Figs. 1, b,
c are for particular cases of existing of symmetry elements in the body. It is shown that in
Fig. 1, с, region of resistance consists of one point, through which all lines of translational
action are passing. In this case region of resistance reduces to center of resistance.
It should to be noted, region of resistance is not only definition appeared in scientific
literature for the period 2013-2014 suggested to study initial tooth movements, when the
center of resistance does not exist [1, 6, 10].
DETERMINATION OF REGION OF RESISTANCE LOCATION
The present work is a continuation of ideas developed in articles [8, 9], where
center/region of resistance theory is based on the following model: Tooth surrounded by
periodontal ligament is treated as perfectly rigid body immersed in linear elastic medium at
the stable equilibrium state. At the applied force system, tooth has small movements within
the alveolar pit. Let  be a column of pole displacement components;  is a column of
components of the small rotation about the pole; R is the principal vector of the forces; M is
the principal moment of forces with respect to the pole. Then, owing to the linear elasticity of
medium
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Region of resistance of tooth: experimental determination
    ˆ
  T
    ˆ
ˆ   R 
  ,
ˆ   M 
(1)
where ˆ , ˆ , ˆ are matrixes depending on the shape of the tooth root and the elastic properties
of periodontal ligament and pole location. Matrix of the system (1) is symmetrical and
positive definite one. Hence, ˆ , ˆ are symmetrical and positive-definite too, ̂ is
asymmetrical one in general case.
ˆ ˆ 1 ; ̂ be the antisymmetric part of matrix
Let ̂ be the symmetric part of matrix 
ˆ ˆ 1 ;  is the vector corresponding to the matrix ̂ . It is can be showed that the centre of

resistance exists if and only if ˆ  0 , its coordinates are the components of vector  . If ˆ  0 ,
then the centre of resistance does not exist, but the lines of translational action still may exist
and set of them will determine region of resistance. Also, this region can be determined
analytically. In this case, components of  are coordinates of center of region of resistance
(for case in Fig. 1, a, it is ellipse center; for case in Fig. 1, b, it is middle between two points,
for case in Fig. 1, c, it is center of resistance). Directing the coordinate axes along the
principal axes of matrix ̂ , we can determine the location of region of resistance. Eigenvalues
̂ determine size of this region.
However, for analytical determination of region of resistance location, coefficients of
matrix of system (1) must be known. To calculate them, periodontal ligament is assumed as
set of springs with certain elastic coefficients ci . Its spatial orientation is given by coordinates
of the points of attachment to the tooth ( xi , yi , zi ) and angles i , i , i with the coordinates
axes (Fig. 2). The virtual work principle is used. The sum of virtual works of external forces
is equal to the sum of virtual works of stresses
 A
j
e
j
  Ai .
i
y’
ni
y
i
z’
i
li
i
x’
ri
0
z
i
x
Pi
а
b
Fig. 2. Problem scheme: а is spatial model of tooth surrounded by springs;
b is i-spring location
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71
А.L. Dubinin
Let us give virtual displacements to the points and write the virtual work of external forces
 Pi ri and virtual work of stresses  ci li ri
i
i
 P r   c l r ,
i
i
i
i
i
i
(2)
i
where ri is virtual displacement of point of i-spring attachment to tooth, li is i-spring
elongation vector.
Virtual displacement of the point is made up of virtual translational movement along
with a pole (at the origin) r0 and rotation with the infinitesimal angle around the pole 
ri  r0   ri .
Similarly, for the actual small displacement  ri
ri  r0   ri ,
where r0 is actual pole displacement;  is vector of small angle of rotation around the
pole at applied force system.
We represent ri in the view ri  rix i  riy j  riz k and elongation of i-spring li –
as scalar product of actual displacement vector ri and unit vector ni along the axes of
i-spring li  ( ri ni )  ni  ( rix cos i   riy cos i   riz cos i )  ni . Thus, we substitute these
values in the right hand side of expression (2) and writing projections of virtual and actual
displacements, we obtain
i ci li  ri  i ci (x0a  y0b  z0d  xe   y f  z g )
(3)
(a x0  b y0  d  z0  ex  f  y  g  z),
where a  cos i , b  cos i , d  cos i , e = (zi cos i  yi cos i ) , f = (xi cos  i  zi cos i ) ,
g = (xi cos i  yi cos i ).
We can write sum of virtual works of external forces through the generalized forces
 P r  Q x
i
i
x
0
 Qy y0  Qz z0  M x  x  M y  y  M z  z .
(4)
i
Then, comparing expression (3) and (4), generalized forces can be found as
coefficients at same variations of generalized coordinates. Combining them into a system of
equations, we obtain
Qx   ci (x0 a  y0b  z0 d   x e   y f   z g )a,

i
Q  c (x a  y b  z d   e   f   g )b,
i
0
0
0
x
y
z
 y 
i

Qz   ci (x0 a  y0b  z0 d   x e   y f   z g )d ,

i

 M x   ci (x0 a  y0b  z0 d   x e   y f   z g )e,
i

 M y   ci (x0 a  y0b  z0 d   x e   y f   z g ) f ,

i

 M z   ci (x0 a  y0b  z0 d   x e   y f   z g ) g .
i

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Region of resistance of tooth: experimental determination
Let us write this system of equations in matrix form
 Qx   ci a 2

 
 Qy   ci ba
 Q   c da
 z  i
 M x   ci ea
 M   c fa
 y  i
 M   ci ga
 z 
ci ab ci ad
ci ae
ci af
ci bd
ci be
cibf
2
ci de
ci df
ci eb
ci ed
ci e
2
ci ef
ci fb
ci fd
ci fe ci f 2
ci gb ci gd
ci ge ci gf
2
ci db
ci b
ci d
ci ag   x0 


cibg   y0 
ci dg   z0 
.

ci eg    x 
ci fg    y 


ci g 2    z 
(5)
Matrix (5) is symmetric positive-definite one. It has a size of 6×6 and includes 21
independent components which are depended on the shape of the tooth root, the elastic
properties of periodontium and pole location. It is seen, the unknown system matrix (1) can be
obtained as an inverse of the determined matrix (5).
This algorithm is programmed in Matlab and allows us to determine the location of the
center/region of resistance in particular cases.
RELATION BETWEEN REGION OF RESISTANCE TYPE AND TOOTH ROOT FORM
To investigate types of region of resistance, we direct coordinate axes along the
principal axes ̂ and place the pole O * in the point determined by the vector  . For
searching a set of translational axes lines in work [4], equation of the second order surface
was obtained
1 x 2  2 y 2  3 z 2  12 3  0 ,
(6)
where i are eigenvalues of matrix ̂ ; x, y, z are components of vector r .
Passing through the every point on the surface (6) the line along the eigenvector of
ˆ ˆ 1 , corresponding to the zero eigenvalue of this matrix, we obtain a set of lines of
matrix 
translational action. Combination of the number signs i determine type of this set and,
hence, region of resistance. Values i determine size of the region of resistance.
General case
Tooth root has a form (closed to physiological) of upper incisor (without any
symmetry elements) (Fig. 3, a). Using the program in this case, we can obtain i :
1  0.0653; 2  0.007; 3  0.0344.
Surface equation (6) takes the form of canonical equation of hyperboloid of one sheet.
x2
y2
z2


1.
0.015 0.047 0.021
All available translational action lines are located in such a way that they are one of
the two families of hyperboloid generating lines (Fig. 3, b). Region of resistance type is
ellipse of minimal diameter (Fig. 3, c).
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А.L. Dubinin
y
y
y
y
x
x
x
z
z
z
x
z
а
b
c
Fig. 3. To general case: а is location of hyperboloid relative to the tooth root (blue lines
are root borders, purple lines are springs); b is relation of hyperboloid and translational
action lines (red lines); c is ellipse location in three planes: green line is
y-semiaxis, red line is x-semiaxis)
Any symmetry case
а) Tooth root has a form having one symmetry plane (Fig. 4). Eigenvalues are
1  0.41; 2  0; 3  0.41. Surface equation (6) takes the form of canonical equation of
two intersecting planes.
0.41z 2  0.41x 2  0 .
All available translational action lines pass through the one point and lie in the plane
yz, but this point is not center of resistance in full sense of this definition. This case of
symmetry was considered in work [1] and relates to the definition “center of resistance in
plane of symmetry”.
b) Tooth root has a form of rectangular parallelepiped having two symmetry planes
(Fig. 5). Eigenvalues are 1  0.33; 2  0; 3  0.33. Surface equation (6) takes the form
of canonical equation of two intersecting planes. It should to be noted, these planes are
mutually perpendicular (since 3  1 ).
0.33z 2  0.33x 2  0 .
Region resistance type is two points lying on the line of intersection of two planes.
y
y
x
z
x
z
Fig. 4. To the one symmetry plane case. Blue point is center of resistance in plane,
red lines are translational action lines
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Region of resistance of tooth: experimental determination
c) Tooth root has a symmetry axis of n-order (n > 2) (Fig. 6). Eigenvalues are 1  0;
2  0; 3  0. Hence, region of resistance coincides with center of resistance and all
translational action lines are intersected in one point.
Other types of region of resistance shown in work [9] do not considered in present
article, because it is possible that does not exist such tooth root form, where i could take
corresponding combinations of signs. This arque is experimentally proved during numerous
varying of forms of the body immersed in an elastic medium.
y
y
x
x
z
z
Fig. 5. To the two symmetry plane case. Blue, green points are points of region of
resistance, red lines are translational action lines
y
y
а
z
x
y
b
x
z
y
x
x
z
z
Fig. 6. To the symmetry axis case: а is symmetry axis of 4th order; b is symmetry axis of
6th order; red lines are translational action lines
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А.L. Dubinin
RELATION BETWEEN TYPES OF REGION OF RESISTANCE
This paragraph demonstrates an experiment, whose aim was to observe the general
nature of the different types of region of resistance. It clearly reflects the transition from one
type of region to another by changing the geometrical parameters of the “tooth–periodontium”
system.
First, the body of arbitrary form was taken (Fig. 7, a) and gradually transformed in the
body having an axis of symmetry of n-order (n > 2) (Fig. 7, b). In the process of transition,
values i have been fixed at each stage of deformation and then, they were united in the graph
(Fig. 8), reflecting the dependence on variable parameters. Interval AB characterizes the
transition from an arbitrary form A to the appearance of two symmetry planes B (see Figs. 7,
8). At the aspiration of  2 to zero, region of resistance (ellipse) undergoes changes in the size
and orientation as follows: 1) values of semiaxes of ellipse are decreased, at that x-semiaxis is
equal to 0 at moment B (see Fig. 7, a); 2) the non-zero eigenvector of matrix ̂ is coincided
A
B
C
x
z
а
b
Fig. 7. To the experiment: а – experimental first-step model;
б – process of deformation of body
A
z, mm
B
4
3
A
z, mm
B
4
3
2
–0.4
C
0
i
а
0.4
2
–0.4
C
0
Semiaxes, mm
0.4
b
Fig. 8. Dependences of changes of  i (а) and semiaxes of ellipse (b) on changes of tooth
root form along the z-axis: а) blue line is 1 ; green line is 2 ; red line is  3 ; b) blue line is
x-semiaxis; green line is y-semiaxis
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Region of resistance of tooth: experimental determination
z, mm
z, mm
2
15
15
3
1
y
x
0
0
–15
–15
z
i
–2
0
а
2
–2
0
2
b
Fig. 9. Dependences of changes of  i (а) and semiaxes of
ellipse (b) on changes of tooth root form along the z-axis.
Notations are the same as in Fig. 8
Fig. 10. Picture of deformation
stage of the body when z = 11
(i.е.
 2 = 0)
with the line of intersection of two planes. At the reaching the B form, the ellipse transforms
into a straight line. The transition BC is characterized proportional decreasing of i values. At
the reaching the C form, the body has the axis of symmetry of n-order (in present case n = 4).
All i and the semiaxes are zero, indicating reducing of region of resistance in a single
point – the center of resistance.
Also, it is interesting to go beyond the physiological form of the tooth root and
observe the broader pattern of values change i . The body is selected as rectangular
parallelepiped. Deforming this body, symmetry is broken, wherein one of the vertical edges is
stretched.
Analyzing the graph of dependence of values i on changed parameters (see Fig. 9), it
can be seen, that  2 takes zero-values in three points z1  2.4; z2  4; z3  11. In these
points, type of region of resistance corresponds to 1  0; 2  0; 3  0 . In point z2 , result is
expected, but in points z1 , z3 the body does not have any external observed symmetry, but
this type of region of resistance is inherent to it still (Fig. 10). Surface equation (6) in this
points takes the form of two intersected planes, but they will not be mutually perpendicular,
because angle coefficient k   3 1  1 .
CONCLUSIONS
Presented investigation is a continuation of the ideas and theory developed in works
[8, 9]. In these ones, it is showed that the center of resistance of the tooth does not always
exist and for those cases, a new concept of region of resistance is introduced. The results of
this study are the developing of technique to determinate the location of the region of
resistance analytically or by finding the set of translational action lines. The relation between
the type of the region of resistance and the geometric parameters of the “tooth–periodontium”
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77
А.L. Dubinin
system is established. The process of transition from one type of region to another is
considered. Also, it is experimentally shown, that the center of resistance may exist in bodies
with the axis of symmetry of n-order (n > 2).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author is grateful to Y.I. Nyashin, M.A. Osipenko, V.S. Tuktamyshev for their
help, valuable comments and constant attention to this work.
Investigation was made at support by Russian Fund for Basic Research within the
scientific project №15-01-04932
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