Effect of a dilacerated root on stress distribution to the tooth and supporting tissues

The configuration of the root of a prospective abutment tooth has a significant influence on its potential load-bearing capacity. Dilaceration is an angulation in the root or crown. This abnormality may also affect the stability and longevity of an abutment. Finite element stress analysis was used to investigate the effect of a root dilaceration on stress distribution to the tooth and its supporting structures. A normal and a dilacerated single-rooted tooth under three loads (axial, distooblique, and mesio-oblique) were analyzed and compared. The results indicated that a dilaceration concentrates the stresses in the supporting structures and may be taken into consideration as a risk factor in abutment selection.