{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T17:02:43Z","timestamp":1780938163392,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780876800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Tooth-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) exhibit complex biomechanical behaviour because occlusal loads are transferred through the periodontal ligament (PDL) and heterogeneous mandibular bone. This pilot study aimed to develop a patient-specific NURBS-based finite element analysis (FEA) workflow for anatomically realistic mandibular reconstruction and to evaluate the biomechanical effect of geometric simplification in tooth-supported FPD simulations. Cone beam computed tomography data from a single subject were segmented and reconstructed into a layered three-dimensional model of the mandible and dentition, including cortical bone, cancellous bone, teeth, and PDL. A high-fidelity reference model (V0) and four simplified variants (V1\u2013V4) were analysed under static 500 N loads applied at 0\u00b0 and 30\u00b0. The reference model yielded a maximum von Mises stress of 507 MPa and a peak displacement of 0.74 mm, with stress concentrations consistently localised at the retainer\u2013pontic connector region. Inclusion of the PDL markedly affected the mechanical response, doubling denture displacement in simplified comparative models. Among the simplified configurations, V4, which preserved cortical morphology and PDL representation while omitting detailed trabecular architecture, showed the closest agreement with the reference model, with mean deviations of 6.1% and 5.8% under the two loading conditions, respectively. These findings suggest that patient-specific NURBS\u2013FEA modelling provides a robust framework for biomechanical assessment of tooth-supported FPDs, while controlled simplification may improve computational efficiency without substantially compromising accuracy under static loading conditions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb17060285","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T16:25:16Z","timestamp":1780935916000},"page":"285","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Individual, High-Precision 3D Mandibular Model for Finite Element Analysis of Three-Unit Bridges: A Biomechanical Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Istv\u00e1n","family":"Pels\u0151czi-Kov\u00e1cs","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged, Tisza Lajos k\u00f6r\u00fat 64\u201366, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B\u00e1lint","family":"De\u00e1k","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged, Tisza Lajos k\u00f6r\u00fat 64\u201366, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Klaudia","family":"Papp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Innovative Vehicles and Materials, GAMF Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, John von Neumann University, Izs\u00e1ki \u00fat 10., H-6000 Kecskem\u00e9t, Hungary"},{"name":"Department of Machine and Product Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, M\u0171egyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0829-8062","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Attila Istv\u00e1n","family":"Piros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Innovative Vehicles and Materials, GAMF Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, John von Neumann University, Izs\u00e1ki \u00fat 10., H-6000 Kecskem\u00e9t, Hungary"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"667","article-title":"A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) after an observation period of at least 5 years","volume":"15","author":"Pjetursson","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clin. 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