Finite element analysis and photoelasticity in dental biomechanics: history, applications, comparative insights and future directions for improvement of FEA

Finite element analysis (FEA) and photoelasticity are frequently utilized methods in biomechanical research to examine stress distribution within dental structures and materials. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the historical evolution, clinical applications, and comparative advantages of these methods and limitations of FEA with a particular emphasis on endodontic research. While photoelasticity offers intuitive, real-time visualization of stress patterns, it remains limited in analyzing complex three-dimensional (3D) structures. In contrast, FEA enables the simulation of complex 3D anatomical structures and multidirectional loading conditions through numerical computations, making it a powerful tool across various dental specialties. However, FEA presents significant limitations including unrealistic modeling assumptions, oversimplified anatomical geometries with insufficient representation of diversity and lack of material long-term material degradation models. The review proposes recommendations to enhance FEA's clinical relevance including incorporating anisotropic tissue and material properties, patient-specific parameters, dynamic loading scenarios, and advanced techniques for crack propagation analysis.