Hardness and Young's modulus determined by nanoindentation technique of filler particles of dental restorative materials compared with human enamel

Remineralization potential of dentifrices with calcium sodium phosphosilicate and functionalized tri-calcium phosphate in the deeper incipient carious lesions: An in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the remineralization potential of calcium sodium phosphosilicate and functionalized tri-calcium phosphate (f-TCP) dentifrices in deeper incipient carious lesions (ICLs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Artificial ICLs were created by placing premolars into demineralizing solutions. Teeth were randomly assigned into four groups: calcium sodium phosphosilicate (Group 1), f-TCP (Group 2), 1450 ppm fluoride (Group 3), and distilled water (Group 4), which were subjected to 10-day pH cycling. Mineral density (MD) was assessed using microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT), while hardness (H) and elastic modulus (EM) were assessed using nanomechanical testing.

RESULTS

MD % gain was higher in Groups 1-3 than in Group 4. In addition, Groups 1 and 2 exhibited significantly higher MD % gain than Group 3. Also, Groups 1-3 showed significantly higher EM and H values than Group 4 in the outer enamel area; yet, Groups 1 and 2 displayed significantly higher EM and H values than Groups 3 and 4 in the inner enamel.

CONCLUSIONS

The MD, EM, and H of ICLs significantly increased with the addition of calcium sodium phosphosilicate or f-TCP to fluoridated dentifrices compared to standard fluoride dentifrices. The added active ingredients remineralized the deeper parts of the ICLs, while remineralization at the lesion surface was similar between tested dentifrices.

Effect of 3D printing system and post-curing atmosphere on micro- and nano-wear of additive-manufactured occlusal splint materials

Although additive manufacturing has been widely applied for occlusal splint (OS) fabrication, it is still unclear whether 3D printing system and post-curing atmosphere would play a role in the wear resistance of additive-manufactured OS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3D printing system (liquid crystal display (LCD) and digital light processing (DLP)) and post-curing atmosphere (air and nitrogen gas (N₂)) on the wear resistance of hard and soft OS materials for additive-manufactured OSs (KeySplint® Hard and Soft). The evaluated properties were microwear (by two-body wear test) and nano-wear resistances (by nanoindentation wear test) as well as flexural strength and flexural modulus (by three-point bending test), surface microhardness (by Vickers hardness test), and nanoscale elastic modulus (reduced elastic modulus) and nano surface hardness (by nanoindentation test). For the hard material, the surface microhardness, microwear resistance, reduced elastic modulus, nano surface hardness, and nano-wear resistance were significantly affected by the printing system (p < 0.05), while all the evaluated properties except flexural modulus were significantly affected by the post-curing atmosphere (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, both the printing system and post-curing atmosphere significantly affected all the evaluated properties (p < 0.05). The specimens additive-manufactured by DLP printer tended to show higher wear resistance in the hard material groups and lower wear resistance in the soft material groups when compared to those by LCD printer. The post-curing at N₂ atmosphere significantly enhanced the microwear resistance of hard material groups additive-manufactured by the DLP printer (p < 0.05) and soft material groups additive-manufactured by the LCD printer (p < 0.01), while it significantly enhanced the nano-wear resistance of both hard and soft material groups regardless of the printing system (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that 3D printing system and post-curing atmosphere affect the micro- and nano-wear resistance of tested additively manufactured OS materials. In addition, it can be also concluded that the optical printing system providing higher wear resistance depends on the material type, and using nitrogen gas as a protection gas during post-curing enhances the wear resistance of tested materials.

In vitro comparison of wear of three orthodontic bite materials and opposing enamel

OBJECTIVE

Orthodontic bite turbos are used to separate the maxillary and mandibular arch when disocclusion is needed for brackets placement or extrusion of teeth. Bite turbos should have adequate wear resistance to maintain disocclusion but also avoid abrasion of the opposing enamel. The objective of this study was to measure the wear of three materials used as bite turbos and opposing enamel wear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

10mm×8mm×4mm specimens (n=8) of Transbond™LR (3M™) Transbond™ Plus (3M™) and Triad®gel (Dentsply) were prepared in silicone molds. Cusps of extracted premolars were prepared to a standard cone shape. Extracted maxillary incisors were used as reference for flat enamel surfaces. The experiments were performed on the modified UAB wear testing device at 20N for 200,000 cycles at 1Hz. All surfaces were scanned with a non-contact profilometer at 10micron resolution. Volumetric wear was measured with superimposition software and data analysed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc.

RESULTS

Significant differences were seen in the wear of materials and opposing enamels (P<.01). Material wear ranked: Triad®gel (.878±.196mm³)>Transbond™ Plus (.317±.062mm³)>Transbond™ LR (.136±.027mm³)>Enamel (.053±.04mm³). Opposing enamel ranked: Transbond™ LR (.158±.086mm³)=Enamel (.128±.035mm³)=Transbond™ Plus (.126±.025mm³)>Triad®gel (.039±.008mm³).

CONCLUSIONS

All bite turbo materials wore more than natural enamel but caused equal or less wear to opposing enamel than tooth-tooth contact. Triad®gel underwent 2.5× and 6× the wear of Transbond™ Plus and Transbond™ LR respectively. The bite turbo material used may be selected based on preference for longevity.

The effect of micro-mechanical signatures of constituent phases in modern dental restorative materials on their macro-mechanical property: A statistical nanoindentation approach

This study utilized a statistical nanoindentation analysis technique (SNT) to measure the amount of organic and inorganic constituents of twenty different brands of dental resin-based composites (RBCs) and tested whether their macro-property such as flexural modulus could be approximated by the proportions of constituents' micromechanical signatures using various rules of mixtures. The probability density function (PDF) of constitutive moduli per RBC brand were measured for three groups, comprised of different indent arrays and inter-indent spacings. SNT was then applied to deconvolute each PDF, from which the effective filler (μ^F) and matrix (μ^M) moduli and filler (V^F) and matrix (V^M) volume fractions per RBC brand were computed. V^F and V^M values obtained via SNT were strongly correlated with V^F and V^M obtained via Thermogravimetric Analysis and Archimedes method. The "observed" flexural modulus (E_c^FS) measured under macro-experiment were well associated with "predicted" effective modulus (E_c^Eff) measured under nano-experiment, thereby establishing that global modulus was strongly affected by the constituents' micromechanics. However, the "predicted" E_c^Eff were proportionally higher than the "observed" E_c^FS. V^F was a confounder to E_c^FS and E_c^Eff, whereby the influence of V^F on both modular ratios (E_c^FS/μ^M and E_c^Eff/μ^M) was best modeled by an exponential regression.

Effects of thermal and mechanical cycling on the mechanical strength and surface properties of dental CAD-CAM restorative materials

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The properties of dental computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) materials vary. Studies regarding the effects of aging on the properties of these materials are lacking.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the changes in the mechanical and surface properties of different CAD-CAM materials after thermocycling and mechanical loading.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 150 bar-shaped specimens (17.0×4.0×2.0 mm) were prepared from feldspathic glass-ceramic (VM; Vitablocs Mark II), lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (EX; IPS e.max CAD), zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate glass-ceramic (CD; Celtra Duo), polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (VE; Vita Enamic), and resin-nanoceramic (CS; Cerasmart). Each type was divided into 2 groups (n=15; each). One group was subjected to thermocycling in distilled water at 5 °C to 55 °C for 6000 cycles and 50 N mechanical loading for 1.2×10⁶ cycles. The other group was stored in 37 °C water for 24 hours. Nanoindentation hardness, Young modulus, and 3-point flexural strength were measured for the analyses of the mechanical properties. Surface roughness, surface microstructure, and elemental composition were measured to analyze the surface characteristics. Statistical analyses were performed with 1-way ANOVA with the Tukey HSD post hoc test, independent samples t test, Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni post hoc test, Mann-Whitney U test, and 2-way ANOVA (α=.05).

RESULTS

Before and after aging, CS exhibited the lowest hardness (1.20 to 1.04 GPa) and Young modulus (13.76 to 13.48 GPa) values (P<.05). EX exhibited the highest flexural strengths (393.43 to 391.86 MPa), and VM exhibited the lowest (109.98 to 112.73 MPa) values (P<.05). CS exhibited the highest surface roughness (S_a and S_q; 10.60 to 28.82, 14.21 to 38.27 nm) values (P<.05). After aging, the hardness and Young modulus of VM, EX, and VE decreased significantly (P<.001). No significant difference was observed in the flexural strengths of the CAD-CAM materials (P>.05). Significant increases were observed in the surface roughness of all the materials (P<.05), with altered microstructures. Except for the flexural strength, the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of the CAD-CAM materials were significantly affected by the material type after aging.

CONCLUSIONS

Before and after aging, resin-nanoceramic exhibited the lowest hardness and Young modulus, and the highest surface roughness. Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic exhibited the highest flexural strength and feldspathic glass-ceramic exhibited the lowest value. After aging, increased surface roughness and microstructure alterations were observed. Significant interactions between aging process and material type were found for the mechanical properties and surface characteristics except for the flexural strength.

Wear mechanism of human tooth enamel: The role of interfacial protein bonding between HA crystals

Human tooth enamel, the most mineralized tissue in body, contains less than 2 wt% protein. Consequently, the importance of the protein to enamel mechanical response has always been overlooked. In this study, the role of minor protein in providing enamel microstructure and mechanical performance, especially tribological properties, were studied using deproteinization treatment and nano-indentation/scratch technique. Via the change from the original to the deproteinated conditions, a nanostructure degeneration from the assembly of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals into nano-fibers to crystal aggregation has been found between the high-wear-resistance and low-wear-resistance on the enamel surface. Correspondingly, an energy dissipation to cause a unit volume of wear on enamel surface decreases by 50%, and wear volume increases by 80%. With the presence of protein, the occurrence of enamel wear requires to break the interfacial protein bonding between the HA crystals in nano-fibers and the break dissipates considerable energy, which benefits the enamel to resist wear. Thus, the protein in enamel, although of a very low content, is essential to resisting wear by mediating the assembly of rigid HA crystals via interfacial protein bonding. Replicating functions of the protein component will be critical to the successful development of bio-inspired materials that are designed for wear-resistance.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of respirable fraction of composite dust on human bronchial cells

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of the respirable fraction of composite dust (<4 μm) on human bronchial epithelial cells.

METHODS

Composite sticks of three commercial dental composites (Filtek Supreme XTE, Grandio, Transbond XT) were ground in an enclosed plexiglass chamber with a rough dental bur (grain-size 100 μm) and the generated airborne respirable dust was collected in a personal cyclone on a teflon filter (pore size 5 μm). Immediately after particle collection, the dust was quantified gravimetrically and the particles were suspended in cell culturing medium. Next, human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) were exposed to the suspensions (3 μg/ml-400 μg/ml). After 24 h, cell viability (WST-1 assay) and membrane integrity (LDH assay) were evaluated. Furthermore, the genotoxic effect of a sub-cytotoxic concentration (50 μg/ml) of composite dust was evaluated by the comet assay after 3 h exposure and cell cycle disturbances were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cellular uptake of particles was evaluated by transmission electronic microscope (TEM).

RESULTS

For all three tested composite materials, a decrease in metabolic activity of 10-35% was observed when the cells were exposed to the highest concentrations (100 μg/ml-400 μg/ml). Toxicity was partially linked to membrane disruption especially after 72 h exposure. All tested composites provoked a mild genotoxic effect after short-term exposure compared to the control groups. TEM revealed that respirable particles of all tested composites were taken up by the cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

The respirable fraction of composite dust only showed cytotoxic effects at the highest concentrations, whereas mild genotoxicity was observed after exposure to a sub-cytotoxic concentration.

Nano-indentation of native phytoliths and dental tissues: implications for herbivore-plant combat and dental wear proxies

Tooth wear induced by abrasive particles is a key process affecting dental function and life expectancy in mammals. Abrasive particles may be plant endogenous opal phytoliths, exogene wind-blown quartz dust or rain borne mineral particles ingested by mammals. Nano-indentation hardness of abrasive particles and dental tissues is a significant yet not fully established parameter of this tribological system. We provide consistent nano-indentation hardness data for some of the major antagonists in the dental tribosystem (tooth enamel, tooth dentine and opaline phytoliths from silica controlled cultivation). All indentation data were gathered from native tissues under stable and controlled conditions and thus maximize comparability to natural systems. Here we show that native (hydrated) wild boar enamel exceeds any hardness measures known for dry herbivore tooth enamel by at least 3 GPa. The native tooth enamel is not necessarily softer then environmental quartz grit, although there is little overlap. The native hardness of the tooth enamel exceeds that of any silica phytolith hardness recently published. Further, we find that native reed phytoliths equal native suine dentine in hardness, but does not exceed native suine enamel. We also find that native suine enamel is significantly harder than dry enamel and dry phytoliths are harder than native phytoliths. Our data challenge the claim that the culprit of tooth wear may be the food we chew, but suggest instead that wear may relates more to exogenous than endogenous abrasives.

Light-Curing Volumetric Shrinkage in Dimethacrylate-Based Dental Composites by Nanoindentation and PAL Study

Light-curing volumetric shrinkage in dimethacrylate-based dental resin composites Dipol® is examined through comprehensive kinetics research employing nanoindentation measurements and nanoscale atomic-deficient study with lifetime spectroscopy of annihilating positrons. Photopolymerization kinetics determined through nanoindentation testing is shown to be described via single-exponential relaxation function with character time constants reaching respectively 15.0 and 18.7 s for nanohardness and elastic modulus. Atomic-deficient characteristics of composites are extracted from positron lifetime spectra parameterized employing unconstrained x3-term fitting. The tested photopolymerization kinetics can be adequately reflected in time-dependent changes observed in average positron lifetime (with 17.9 s time constant) and fractional free volume of positronium traps (with 18.6 s time constant). This correlation proves that fragmentation of free-volume positronium-trapping sites accompanied by partial positronium-to-positron traps conversion determines the light-curing volumetric shrinkage in the studied composites.

Mechanical properties and molecular structure analysis of subsurface dentin after Er:YAG laser irradiation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the chemical and mechanical modifications in subsurface dentin layer after Er: YAG (Erbium-Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) laser irradiation, as the guidance of new dental restorative materials specific for laser irradiated dentin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dentin disks obtained from extracted human molars were prepared and exposed to a single pulse Er:YAG laser irradiation at 80mJ/pulse. After laser irradiation the mechanical and chemical characteristics of intertubular dentin in subsurface layer were studied using nanoindentation tester and micro-Raman spectromy (μ-RS). The dentin 5-50µm depth beneath the lased surface was determined as testing area. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the mechanical values between lased and untreated subsurface dentin (P = 0.05).

RESULTS

A laser affected subsurface dentin layer after Er:YAG laser treatment is present. The laser irradiation is considered to decrease the mechanical properties in the superficial subsurface layer (<15µm deep). There was no significant difference in nanohardness and Young's modulus between lased subsurface dentin and untreated dentin (p > 0.05) under the depth of 15µm. However, the dentin at 5µm and 10µm depth beneath the lased surface exhibited significantly lower (~ 47.8% and ~ 33.6% respectively) hardness (p < 0.05). Er:YAG laser irradiation affected both mineral and organic components in subsurface dentin layer, a higher degree of crystallinity and reduced organic compounds occurred in the lased subsurface dentin.

CONCLUSION

Under the tested laser parameters, Er:YAG laser irradiation causes lower mechanical values and reduction of organic components in subsurface dentin, which has deleterious effects on resin adhesion to this area.

Composites of fluoroapatite and methylmethacrylate-based polymers (PMMA) for biomimetic tooth replacement

Synthetic composite materials that mimic the structure and composition of mammalian tooth enamel were prepared by mixing fluoroapatite rods (diameter 2-3 μm, thickness about 0.5 μm) and methylmethacrylate (MMA), followed by polymerization either during or immediately after ultracentrifugation, using either a tertiary amine/radical initiator for polymerization at room temperature or a radical initiator for thermal polymerization. This led to mineral-rich composites (mineral content between 50 and 75 wt%). To enhance the mechanical stability and the interaction between fluoroapatite and polymer matrix, small amounts of differently functionalized MMA monomers were added to the co-monomer mixture. Another approach was the coating of the fluoroapatite rods with silica and the polymerization in the presence of a siloxane-functionalized MMA monomer. The hardness of the composites was about 0.2-0.4 GPa as determined by Vickers indentation tests, about 2 times higher than the polymer matrix alone. The composites had a good resistance against acids (60 min at pH 3, 37 °C).

Hardness and modulus of elasticity of primary and permanent teeth after wear against different dental materials

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to determine the Young's modulus and the hardness of deciduous and permanent teeth following wear challenges using different dental materials.

Materials and Methods:

Wear challenges were performed against four dental materials: A resin-based fissure sealant (Fluoroshield^®), a glass ionomer based fissure sealant (Vitremer^®), and two microhybrid composite resins (Filtek Z250 and P90^®). Using the pin-on-plate design, a deciduous or a permanent tooth was made into a pin (4 mm × 4 mm × 2 mm) working at a 3 N vertical load, 1 Hz frequency, and 900 cycles (15 min) with Fusayama artificial saliva as a lubricant. Before and after the tribological tests, the hardness and elasticity modulus of the tooth samples were measured by creating a nanoindentation at load forces up to 50 mN and 150 mN. All of the results were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and post-hoc Duncan's tests (P < 0.05).

Results:

No difference in hardness was encountered between deciduous and permanent teeth (P < 0.05) or modulus of elasticity (P < 0.05) before or after the wear challenges for all of the dental materials tested.

Conclusions:

Wear challenges against the studied dental materials did not alter the properties of permanent or deciduous teeth after the application of a 3 N load.

Wear resistance of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins

Objective This study investigated the wear resistance of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins using nanoindentation instrument.

Materials and methods Six injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins (two polyamides, two polyesters, one polycarbonate, one polymethylmethacrylate [PMMA]) and a PMMA conventional heat-polymerized denture-based polymer control were tested. Elastic modulus, hardness, wear depth, and roughness were calculated using a nanoindentation instrument.

Results Elastic modulus and hardness of the injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins were significantly lower than those of the PMMA conventional heat-polymerized denture-based polymer. Wear depth of polycarbonate and PMMA conventional heat-polymerized denture-based polymer were significantly higher than that of other injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins. The roughness of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins was significantly more than that of PMMA conventional heat-polymerized denture-based polymer after testing.

Conclusions Wear resistance of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base was low compared to PMMA conventional heat-polymerized denture-based polymers.

Review of research on the mechanical properties of the human tooth

‘Bronze teeth' reflect the mechanical properties of natural teeth to a certain extent. Their mechanical properties resemble those of a tough metal, and the gradient of these properties lies in the direction from outside to inside. These attributes confer human teeth with effective mastication ability. Understanding the various mechanical properties of human teeth and dental materials is the basis for the development of restorative materials. In this study, the elastic properties, dynamic mechanical properties (visco-elasticity) and fracture mechanical properties of enamel and dentin were reviewed to provide a more thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of human teeth.

Structural motifs and elastic properties of hierarchical biological tissues - a review

Recent progress made in the field of hierarchical biological materials is reviewed with an emphasis on the staggering characteristics at the smaller structural scale of a number of tissues. We show by means of selected examples that the small-scale architecture, and particularly the degree of staggering and overlap, plays a critical role in the macroscopic elastic behavior of those tissues.

Indentation damage and crack repair in human enamel

Tooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized tissue in the human body. While there have been a number of studies aimed at understanding the hardness and crack growth resistance behavior of this tissue, no study has evaluated if cracks in this tissue undergo repair. In this investigation the crack repair characteristics of young human enamel were evaluated as a function of patient gender and as a function of the distance from the Dentin Enamel Junction (DEJ). Cracks were introduced via microindentation along the prism direction and evaluated as a function of time after the indentation. Microscopic observations indicated that the repair of cracks began immediately after crack initiation and reaches saturation after approximately 48 h. During this process he crack length decreased up to 10% of the initial length, and the largest degree of reduction occurred in the deep enamel, nearest the DEJ. In addition, it was found that the degree of repair was significantly greater in the enamel of female patients.

Nanoindentation creep versus bulk compressive creep of dental resin-composites

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate nanoindentation as an experimental tool for characterizing the viscoelastic time-dependent creep of resin-composites and to compare the resulting parameters with those obtained by bulk compressive creep.

METHODS

Ten dental resin-composites: five conventional, three bulk-fill and two flowable were investigated using both nanoindentation creep and bulk compressive creep methods. For nano creep, disc specimens (15mm×2mm) were prepared from each material by first injecting the resin-composite paste into metallic molds. Specimens were irradiated from top and bottom surfaces in multiple overlapping points to ensure optimal polymerization using a visible light curing unit with output irradiance of 650mW/cm(2). Specimens then were mounted in 3cm diameter phenolic ring forms and embedded in a self-curing polystyrene resin. Following grinding and polishing, specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24h. Using an Agilent Technologies XP nanoindenter equipped with a Berkovich diamond tip (100nm radius), the nano creep was measured at a maximum load of 10mN and the creep recovery was determined when each specimen was unloaded to 1mN. For bulk compressive creep, stainless steel split molds (4mm×6mm) were used to prepare cylindrical specimens which were thoroughly irradiated at 650mW/cm(2) from multiple directions and stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24h. Specimens were loaded (20MPa) for 2h and unloaded for 2h. One-way ANOVA, Levene's test for homogeneity of variance and the Bonferroni post hoc test (all at p≤0.05), plus regression plots, were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Dependent on the type of resin-composite material and the loading/unloading parameters, nanoindentation creep ranged from 29.58nm to 90.99nm and permanent set ranged from 8.96nm to 30.65nm. Bulk compressive creep ranged from 0.47% to 1.24% and permanent set ranged from 0.09% to 0.38%. There was a significant (p=0.001) strong positive non-linear correlation (r(2)=0.97) between bulk creep and nano creep that could also be expressed via a simple fractional-power function. A significant (p=0.003) positive linear correlation (r(2)=0.69) existed between nano creep recovery and bulk creep recovery. With both methods of examination, except for Venus Bulk Fill™ (VB), the flowable and bulk-fill resin-composites exhibited creep within the range exhibited by the conventional resin-composites.

SIGNIFICANCE

Despite the differences in loading and unloading conditions, in both methods of examination the correlation observed between the creep and recovery responses for a set of resin-composites was high. Both nano creep and recovery positively correlated with loading and unloading rates, respectively.

Structure, composition, and mechanical properties of shark teeth

The teeth of two different shark species (Isurus oxyrinchus and Galeocerdo cuvier) and a geological fluoroapatite single crystal were structurally and chemically characterized. In contrast to dentin, enameloid showed sharp diffraction peaks which indicated a high crystallinity of the enameloid. The lattice parameters of enameloid were close to those of the geological fluoroapatite single crystal. The inorganic part of shark teeth consisted of fluoroapatite with a fluoride content in the enameloid of 3.1 wt.%, i.e., close to the fluoride content of the geological fluoroapatite single crystal (3.64 wt.%). Scanning electron micrographs showed that the crystals in enameloid were highly ordered with a special topological orientation (perpendicular towards the outside surface and parallel towards the center). By thermogravimetry, water, organic matrix, and biomineral in dentin and enameloid of both shark species were determined. Dentin had a higher content of water, organic matrix, and carbonate than enameloid but contained less fluoride. Nanoindentation and Vicker's microhardness tests showed that the enameloid of the shark teeth was approximately six times harder than the dentin. The hardness of shark teeth and human teeth was comparable, both for dentin and enamel/enameloid. In contrast, the geological fluoroapatite single crystal was much harder than both kinds of teeth due to the absence of an organic matrix. In summary, the different biological functions of the shark teeth ("tearing" for Isurus and "cutting" for Galeocerdo) are controlled by the different geometry and not by the chemical or crystallographic composition.

Indentation experiments and simulation of ovine bone using a viscoelastic-plastic damage model

Indentation methods have been widely used to study bone at the micro- and nanoscales. It has been shown that bone exhibits viscoelastic behavior with permanent deformation during indentation. At the same time, damage due to microcracks is induced due to the stresses beneath the indenter tip. In this work, a simplified viscoelastic-plastic damage model was developed to more closely simulate indentation creep data, and the effect of the model parameters on the indentation curve was investigated. Experimentally, baseline and 2-year postovariectomized (OVX-2) ovine (sheep) bone samples were prepared and indented. The damage model was then applied via finite element analysis to simulate the bone indentation data. The mechanical properties of yielding, viscosity, and damage parameter were obtained from the simulations. The results suggest that damage develops more quickly for OVX-2 samples under the same indentation load conditions as the baseline data.

In vitro demineralisation of the cervical region of human teeth

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate a possible role for demineralisation of the cervical region of human teeth in the development of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Freshly extracted human premolars were demineralised and prepared for nanoindentation and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. After 1 day or 2 days demineralisation in a solution of pH 4.5, specimens were embedded, cut and polished to 1 μm diamond paste. Nanoindentation was done at the cementum-enamel junction (CEJ) region with an interval of 30 μm, to develop mechanical properties maps. After the indentation, SEM with back-scatter detector was employed to observe the degree of demineralisation at the CEJ.

RESULTS

After 1 day and 2 days demineralisation, the mechanical properties of enamel and dentine at the CEJ decreased by ∼50% and ∼90%, respectively. SEM images illustrate that artificial demineralisation generated typical demineralised zones in enamel near the CEJ. Moreover, 2 days demineralisation penetrated the sound enamel at the CEJ, and the dentine beneath was undermined.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

One day and 2 days demineralisation reduced the mechanical properties of teeth at the CEJ significantly. Demineralised enamel and dentine with low mechanical properties are prone to wear and abrasion. The findings of the investigation indicate that acid typical of that produced by dental plaque may compromise the mechanical properties of enamel and dentine at the CEJ to the extent that they would be susceptible to tooth brush abrasion, producing NCCLs.

Variations in the mechanical properties of Alouatta palliata molar enamel

Teeth have provided insights into many topics including primate diet, paleobiology, and evolution, due to the fact that they are largely composed of inorganic materials and may remain intact long after an animal is deceased. Previous studies have reported that the mechanical properties, chemistry, and microstructure of human enamel vary with location. This study uses nanoindentation to map out the mechanical properties of Alouatta palliata molar enamel on an axial cross-section of an unworn permanent third molar, a worn permanent first molar, and a worn deciduous first molar. Variations were then correlated with changes in microstructure and chemistry using scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe techniques. The hardness and Young's modulus varied with location throughout the cross-sections from the occlusal surface to the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ), from the buccal to lingual sides, and also from one tooth to another. These changes in mechanical properties correlated with changes in the organic content of the tooth, which was shown to increase from approximately 6% near the occlusal surface to approximately 20% just before the DEJ. Compared to human enamel, the Alouatta enamel showed similar microstructures, chemical constituents, and magnitudes of mechanical properties, but showed less variation in hardness and Young's modulus, despite the very different diet of this species.

Alteration of dentin-enamel mechanical properties due to dental whitening treatments

The mechanical properties of dentin and enamel affect the reliability and wear properties of a tooth. This study investigated the influence of clinical dental treatments and procedures, such as whitening treatments or etching prior to restorative procedures. Both autoclaved and non-autoclaved teeth were studied in order to allow for both comparison with published values and improved clinical relevance. Nanoindentation analysis with the Oliver-Pharr model provided elastic modulus and hardness across the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ). Large increases were observed in the elastic modulus of enamel in teeth that had been autoclaved (52.0 GPa versus 113.4 GPa), while smaller increases were observed in the dentin (17.9 GPa versus 27.9 GPa). Likewise, there was an increase in the hardness of enamel (2.0 GPa versus 4.3 GPa) and dentin (0.5 GPa versus 0.7 GPa) with autoclaving. These changes suggested that the range of elastic modulus and hardness values previously reported in the literature may be partially due to the sterilization procedures. Treatment of the exterior of non-autoclaved teeth with Crest Whitestrips, Opalescence or UltraEtch caused changes in the mechanical properties of both the enamel and dentin. Those treated with Crest Whitestrips showed a reduction in the elastic modulus of enamel (55.3 GPa to 32.7 GPa) and increase in the elastic modulus of dentin (17.2 GPa to 24.3 GPa). Opalescence treatments did not significantly affect the enamel properties, but did result in a decrease in the modulus of dentin (18.5 GPa to 15.1 GPa). Additionally, as expected, UltraEtch treatment decreased the modulus and hardness of enamel (48.7 GPa to 38.0 GPa and 1.9 GPa to 1.5 GPa, respectively) and dentin (21.4 GPa to 15.0 GPa and 1.9 GPa to 1.5 GPa, respectively). Changes in the mechanical properties were linked to altered protein concentration within the tooth, as evidenced by fluorescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Measurement of hydroxyapatite density and Knoop hardness in sound human enamel and a correlational analysis between them

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to measure the hydroxyapatite (HAP) density and Knoop hardness (KHN) of enamel slabs and to analyse the relationship between them.

DESIGN

Twenty enamel slabs (10 lingual sides and 10 buccal sides) were prepared and scanned with micro-CT. Tomographic images of each slab from dental cusp to dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) were reconstructed. On these three-dimensional (3D) images, regions of interest (ROIs) were defined at an interval of 50 microm, and the HAP density for each ROI was calculated. Then the polished surfaces were indented from cusp to DEJ at intervals of 50 microm with a Knoop indenter. Finally, the data were analysed with one-way ANOVA, Student's t-test, and linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The HAP density and KHN decreased from the dental cusp to DEJ. Both HAP density and KHN in the outer-layer enamel were significantly higher than those in the middle- or inner-layer enamel (P<0.05). The HAP density showed no significant difference between the buccal and lingual sides for enamel in the outer, middle and inner layers, respectively (P>0.05). The KHN in the outer-layer enamel of the lingual sides was significantly lower than that of the buccal sides (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between the lingual and buccal sides in the middle or inner layer. Linear regression analysis revealed a linear relationship between the mean KHN and the mean HAP density (r=0.87).

CONCLUSION

Both HAP density and KHN decrease simultaneously from dental cusp to DEJ, and the two properties are highly correlated.

Effect of microstructure upon elastic behaviour of human tooth enamel

Tooth enamel is the stiffest tissue in the human body with a well-organized microstructure. Developmental diseases, such as enamel hypomineralisation, have been reported to cause marked reduction in the elastic modulus of enamel and consequently impair dental function. We produce evidence, using site-specific transmission electron microscopy (TEM), of difference in microstructure between sound and hypomineralised enamel. Built upon that, we develop a mechanical model to explore the relationship of the elastic modulus of the mineral-protein composite structure of enamel with the thickness of protein layers and the direction of mechanical loading. We conclude that when subject to complex mechanical loading conditions, sound enamel exhibits consistently high stiffness, which is essential for dental function. A marked decrease in stiffness of hypomineralised enamel is caused primarily by an increase in the thickness of protein layers between apatite crystals and to a lesser extent by an increase in the effective crystal orientation angle.

In vitro demineralization of human enamel natural and abraded surfaces: a micromechanical and SEM investigation

OBJECTIVES

To compare the demineralization pattern that occurs in abraded samples and unabraded ones quantitatively and microscopically using nanoindentation and SEM.

METHODS

Using 12 human third molars, one half of each tooth was abraded to a depth approximately 200 microm below the outer surface enamel, and the other half was left untreated. All specimens were demineralized for 3d, 5d, 7d and 14d respectively. The cross sections of all lesions were evaluated with nanoindentation and SEM.

RESULTS

Unabraded samples had least loss of mechanical properties and lesion depth compared to abraded samples, with most mechanical property loss occurring within a shallower layer of the lesion. The variation of mechanical properties in unabraded samples was wider than abraded samples. SEM images showed a characteristic "keyhole" structure for both samples after demineralization, with the rod core extensively demineralized while the interrod remained intact. Acid attack initiated at the rod sheath space then penetrated into the rod core before extending into neighbouring rods through the rod tail.

CONCLUSION

Abraded samples exposed to in vitro demineralization form deeper lesion depths and greater loss of mechanical properties than unabraded samples subjected to the same demineralization. Unabraded samples manifested characteristic subsurface demineralization with a shallow surface layer that remained intact, whereas no intact surface was found in abraded samples. The demineralization pattern of unabraded samples more closely resembled the pattern of natural white spot lesions and displayed wide inter-sample variation. Consideration should be given to experimental design with unabraded teeth specimens for future demineralization studies.

Effect of filler size and shape on local nanoindentation modulus of resin-composites

The aim of this study was to determine the Young's moduli (E) of a series of model dental resin-composites using nanoindentation, and to examine how E was influenced by differences in filler-size and shape. Materials with different filler-sizes and shapes but constant filler volume-fraction were investigated. Disc specimens, mounted in polystyrene resin were mechanically polished and tested with a nanoindenter. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test were used for the statistical analysis. Regression analysis was used to investigate the correlation between E and filler-size. E ranged from 9.31 to 12.54 GPa for spherical fillers and from 14.09 to 17.03 GPa for irregular fillers. Statistically significant differences were found among the groups. Strong quadratic correlations were observed between E and filler-size for unimodal materials with spherical and irregular fillers, but were not statistically significant. Filler-size and shape seemed to be fine-tuning factors for E.

Mechanical properties of human enamel as a function of age and location in the tooth

Aging and the related changes in mechanical behavior of hard tissues of the human body are becoming increasingly important. In this study the influence of aging on the mechanical behavior of human enamel was evaluated using 3rd molars from young (18 < or = age < or = 30 years) and old (55 < or = age) patients. The hardness and elastic modulus were quantified using nanoindentation as a function of distance from the Dentin-Enamel Junction (DEJ) and within three different regions of the crown (i.e. cervical, cuspal and inter-cuspal enamel). Results of the evaluation showed that the elastic modulus and hardness increased with distance from the DEJ in all three regions examined, regardless of patient age. The largest increases with distance from the DEJ occurred within the cervical region of the old enamel. Overall, the results showed that there were no age-dependent differences in properties of enamel near the DEJ. However, near the tooth's surface, both the hardness (p < 0.025) and elastic modulus (p < 0.0001) were significantly greater in the old enamel. At the surface of the tooth the average elastic modulus of "old" enamel was nearly 20% greater than that of enamel from the young patients.

On the brittleness of enamel and selected dental materials

Although brittle material behavior is often considered undesirable, a quantitative measure of "brittleness" is currently not used in assessing the clinical merits of dental materials.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify and compare the brittleness of human enamel and common dental restorative materials used for crown replacement.

METHODS

Specimens of human enamel were prepared from the third molars of "young" (18< or =age< or =25) and "old" (50< or =age) patients. The hardness, elastic modulus and apparent fracture toughness were characterized as a function of distance from the DEJ using indentation approaches. These properties were then used in estimating the brittleness according to a model that accounts for the competing dissipative processes of deformation and fracture. The brittleness of selected porcelain, ceramic and micaceous glass ceramic (MGC) dental materials was estimated and compared with that of the enamel.

RESULTS

The average brittleness of the young and old enamel increased with distance from the DEJ. For the old enamel the average brittleness increased from approximately 300 microm(-1) at the DEJ to nearly 900 microm(-1) at the occlusal surface. While there was no significant difference between the two age groups at the DEJ, the brittleness of the old enamel was significantly greater (and up to four times higher) than that of the young enamel near the occlusal surface. The brittleness numbers for the restorative materials were up to 90% lower than that of young occlusal enamel.

SIGNIFICANCE

The brittleness index could serve as a useful scale in the design of materials used for crown replacement, as well as a quantitative tool for characterizing degradation in the mechanical behavior of enamel.

Nanomechanical and chemical characterization of incipient in vitro carious lesions in human dental enamel

OBJECTIVE

The research was designed to examine the growth of in vitro carious lesions in dental enamel using nanoindentation and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS). This was intended to give maps of mechanical properties and chemistry over the cross-section of the lesions.

METHODS

Incipient carious lesions were grown on the buccal faces of 20 human premolars by exposure to acid for 3, 5, 7 or 14 days. The lesions were then cut in cross-section normal to the exposed surface. The lesions' cross-sections were then examined using nanoindentation and TOF-SIMS.

RESULTS

The earliest lesions (3 days of acid exposure) showed little evidence of lesion growth, but the 5, 7 and 14 days of exposure all gave lesions with a weak, demineralized interior, but a stronger, less demineralized surface zone. The thickness of the surface zone was found to diminish with the length of exposure to acid, but it was still present even after 14 days of exposure.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that carious lesions develop subsurface and that the surface zone forms by a coupled diffusion process. Mechanically the lesion has a strong surface layer, but a very weak interior which makes the lesion vulnerable to mechanical loading. However, the presence of a surface zone that retains a high mineral content and is mechanically strong suggests that lesion development can be arrested and possibly reversed even when the lesions are relatively mature.

Understanding the mechanical behaviour of human enamel from its structural and compositional characteristics

As the hardest and one of the most durable load-bearing tissues of the body, enamel has attracted considerable interest from both material scientists and clinical practitioners due to its excellent mechanical properties. In this paper, possible mechanisms responsible for the excellent mechanical properties of enamel are explored and summarized, which primarily include its hierarchical structure and the nanomechanical properties of the minor protein macromolecular component. Furthermore, additional experimental and numerical evidences to support the assumptions are presented. For example, enamel shows lower elastic modulus, higher energy absorption ability and greater indentation creep behaviour than sintered hydroxyapatite material. All the data indicate that the structural and compositional characteristics of the minor protein component significantly regulate the mechanical properties of enamel to better match its functional needs.

Enamel—A “metallic-like” deformable biocomposite

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to compare the mechanical responses of enamel with dental-used metals and to show that enamel has mechanical properties similar to metals rather than ceramics.

METHODS

Four dental-used metals: cast alloy, gold alloy, titanium and amalgam, were compared with enamel. Pure hydroxyapatite (HAP) was used as the ceramic analogue of enamel. A Berkovich and a spherical indenter were selected for nanoindentation tests. The stress-strain (H-a/R) curves and indentation creep behaviour were investigated and analyzed.

RESULTS

Although the primary composition of enamel is hydroxyapatite, the indentation stress-strain curves and creep behaviour of enamel was totally different to HAP. Enamel had similar stress-strain response to that of cast alloy and gold alloy, all of which showed work-hardening effect. Titanium and amalgam had curves that showed lower stress at comparable strain than enamel and showed no work-hardening. Amalgam exhibited the greatest creep behaviour, followed by Titanium, enamel and gold alloy. Similar to HAP, the cast alloy had very limited creep response. Only enamel showed significant backcreep at minimum load. This may be a consequence of the memory behaviour of the minor protein component within enamel.

CONCLUSIONS

The small remnant volume fraction of protein fragments have endowed enamel with metallic-like mechanical properties, which impart it with an ability to sustain repetitive cyclic contact loading over the life of the host. It may be better to choose metallic-like dental restorative materials to sustain the severe cyclic contact behaviour experienced and to protect the opposing teeth from excessive damages.

The effect of prism orientation on the indentation testing of human molar enamel

Recent nanoindentation studies have demonstrated that the hardness and Young's modulus of human molar enamel decreases by more than 50% on moving from the occlusal surface to the dentine-enamel junction on cross-sectional samples. Possible sources of these variations are changes in local chemistry, microstructure, and prism orientation. This study investigates the latter source by performing nanoindentation tests at two different orientations relative to the hydroxyapatite prisms: parallel and perpendicular. A single sample volume was tested in order to maintain a constant chemistry and microstructure. The resulting data show very small differences between the two orientations for both hardness and Young's modulus. The 1.5-3.0% difference is significantly less than the standard deviations found within the data set. Thus, the variations in hardness and Young's modulus on cross-sectional samples of human molar are attributed to changes in local chemistry (varying levels of mineralization, organic matter, and water content) and changes in microstructure (varying volume fractions of inorganic crystals and organic matrix). The impact of prism orientation on mechanical properties measured at this scale by nanoindentation appears to be minimal.

Depth-dependent mechanical properties of enamel by nanoindentation

Nanoindentation has recently emerged to be the primary method to study the mechanical behavior and reliability of human enamel. Its hardness and elastic modulus were generally reported as average values with standard deviations that were calculated from the results of multiple nanoindentation testing. In such an approach, it is assumed that the mechanical properties of human enamel are constant, independent of testing parameters, like indent depth and loading rate. However, little is known if they affect the measurements. In this study, we investigated the dependence of the hardness and elastic modulus of human enamel on the indent depth. We found that in a depth range from 100 to 2000 nm the elastic moduli continuously decreased from approximately 104 to 70 GPa, and the hardnesses decreased from approximately 5.7 to 3.6 GPa. We then considered human enamel as a fiber-reinforced composite, and used the celebrated rule of mixture theory to quantify the upper and lower bounds of the elastic moduli, which were shown to cover the values measured in the current study and previous studies. Accordingly, we attributed the depth dependence of the hardness and modulus to the continuous microstructure evolution induced by the nanoindenter tip.

Determination of elastic modulus of demineralized resin-infiltrated dentin by self-etch adhesives

The purpose of this study was to determine ultrasonically the changes in elastic modulus of demineralized adhesive-infiltrated dentin. Dentin disks were obtained from bovine incisors and shaped into a rectangular form. The specimens were immersed in single-step self-etch adhesives, then stored in distilled water and run through thermal cycles between 5 and 60 degrees C. The longitudinal and shear wave sound velocities and the elastic modulus were determined using ultrasonic equipment composed of a pulser-receiver, transducers, and an oscilloscope. After 24 h of storage, the elastic modulus of mineralized dentin was 16.9 GPa and that of demineralized dentin was 2.1 GPa. The immersion of demineralized dentin in adhesives significantly increased the elastic modulus to 3.3-5.9 GPa. After 30,000 thermal cycles, the elastic modulus of dentin was 32.4 GPa, whereas that of demineralized adhesive infiltrated dentin was 3.1-4.1 GPa. Thermal stresses did not cause adhesive-infiltrated demineralized dentin to deteriorate, as measured by elastic modulus.

The Effect of Bleaching on the Elastic Modulus of Bovine Enamel

The purpose of this study was to determine the elastic modulus of enamel during bleaching procedure with the use of an ultrasonic device. Enamel sections were obtained from freshly extracted bovine incisors. Specimens were exposed to 10% carbamide peroxide for two hours, followed by an application of a fluoride-containing toothpaste for five minutes and stored in artificial saliva (pH 7.0). An ultrasonic device was used to measure the sound velocities of longitudinal and shear waves as well as elastic modulus. The mean elastic modulus of bleached enamel decreased with time, from 15.5 GPa to 10.1 GPa. Conversely, the elastic modulus of bleached enamel followed by application of a fluoride-containing toothpaste increased with time, from 15.2 GPa to 20.2 GPa. Results of this study indicated that a decrease in elastic modulus associated with bleaching occurred, and that fluoride-containing toothpaste reversed this effect.

Finite Element Stress Analysis of Indirect Restorations Prepared in Cavity Bases

The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of tensile stresses in indirect restorations prepared in several composite cavity bases. Elastic moduli of 20 materials were measured by nanoindentation technique for finite element analysis. Axisymmetric models of posterior onlays were constructed using combinations of two onlay materials and three cavity base materials. Thickness of resin cement was 50 um. A vertical load of 95.5 N was applied on the cusp tip. Maximum stress of 18.1 MPa was found in the model consisting of a ceramic onlay and a flowable resin composite base. It was also found that tensile stress increased as the area of the base having a lower elastic modulus became wider. Base materials having higher elastic moduli were determined to be suitable as cavity base materials for posterior restorations.

Morphological and mechanical characterization of the acid-base resistant zone at the adhesive-dentin interface of intact and caries-affected dentin

This study examined the ultrastructure of both intact and caries affected dentin-adhesive interface after artificial secondary caries formation, using scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation testing. Half of the prepared specimens were bonded with Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray Medical, Japan) and a resin composite (Metafil Flo, Sun Medical, Japan) for the nanoindentation test. The other specimens were stored in a buffered demineralizing solution for 90 minutes, then observed using SEM. An acid-base resistant zone (ABRZ) was observed beneath the hybrid layer, distinguished by argon-ion etching. The ABRZ of caries-affected dentin was thicker than that of normal dentin, while its nanohardess was lower than normal dentin (p<0.05). It is suggested that the monomer of Clearfil SE Bond penetrated deeper than previously reported, creating a so-called "hybrid layer." However, its physical properties depended on the condition of the dentin.