This finite elements analysis (FEA) assessed the accuracy of maximum shear stress criteria (Tresca) in the study of orthodontic internal surface resorption and the absorption-dissipation ability of dental tissues. The present study was conducted over eighty-one models totaling 324 simulations with various bone loss levels (0-8 mm), where 0.6 N and 1.2 N were applied in the intrusion, extrusion, rotation, tipping, and translation movements. Tresca criteria displayed localized high-stress areas prone to resorption for all situations, better visible in the dentine component. The internal resorptive risks are less than external ones, seeming to increase with the progression of the periodontal breakdown, especially after 4 mm. The internal and external surface high-stress areas are strictly correlated. The qualitative stress display for both forces was almost similar. The rotation and tipping displayed the highest resorptive risks for the pulp chamber, decreasing with bone loss. The resorptive risks seem to increase along with the progression of periodontal breakdown if the same applied force is kept. The dentine resemblance to ductile based on its high absorption-dissipation ability seems correct. Tresca seems to supply a better predictability of the prone-to-resorption areas than the other failure criteria.
Keywords: failure criteria; finite elements analysis; internal orthodontic resorption risks; orthodontic movements; periodontal breakdown.