To accurately predict the mechanical behavior of the periodontal ligament, an exponential hyperelastic model was used to simulate and analyze the shear experiments and orthodontic treatment. The constitutive equation and elasticity tensor for the hyperelastic model were obtained based on the large deformation of continuum mechanics, and the ABAQUS UMAT subroutine for the model was developed. The parameters of the model were obtained by means of the fittings between the model and four shear experimental data. The results demonstrate that the exponential hyperelastic model can well describe the nonlinear mechanical behavior of the periodontal ligament. Meanwhile, comparisons of numerical results and four periodontal ligament shear experimental data prove the validity of the UMAT subroutine developed for the model. The simulation result of the  orthodontic treatment show that the stresses within the periodontal ligament under orthodontic load are concentrated in the areas near the cervical positions and the root apex.