Nanoscale properties and deformation of human enamel and dentin

Adam H Carreon; Paul D Funkenbusch

doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.05.009

Nanoscale properties and deformation of human enamel and dentin

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2019 Sep:97:74-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.05.009. Epub 2019 May 10.

Authors

Adam H Carreon¹, Paul D Funkenbusch²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA. Electronic address: acarreo2@ur.rochester.edu.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA. Electronic address: paul.funkenbusch@rochester.edu.

PMID: 31100488
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.05.009

Abstract

This research uses quasi-static nanoindentation and nanoscratching to quantify human tooth deformation as a function of enamel rod and dentin tubule orientations at the nanoscale. Nanoindentation tests were performed on enamel and dentin to determine elastic modulus, hardness, and observe fracture. Additionally, nanoscratch tests were performed to determine pileup geometry and parameters such as recovery, scratch hardness, and scratch roughness. In enamel, it was found that nanofiber orientation gives rise to unique microcrack propagation and nanofiber behavior that affect these properties. For dentin, densification and organic content affect these properties.

Keywords: Dentin; Enamel; Fracture; Nanoindentation; Nanoscratch.

MeSH terms

Anisotropy
Biomechanical Phenomena
Dental Enamel / chemistry*
Dentin / chemistry*
Elastic Modulus
Hardness
Humans
Materials Testing
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Molar / chemistry
Molar / physiology*
Nanofibers / chemistry
Nanotechnology
Pressure
Surface Properties