Tribology of dental materials: a review

The mechanical behavior of dental enamel has been the subject of many investigations. Initial studies assumed that it was a more or less homogeneous material with uniform mechanical properties. Now it is generally recognized that the mechanical response of enamel depends upon location, chemical composition, and prism orientation. This study used nanoindentation to map out the properties of dental enamel over the axial cross-section of a maxillary second molar (M(2)). Local variations in mechanical characteristics were correlated with changes in chemical content and microstructure across the entire depth and span of a sample. Microprobe techniques were used to examine changes in chemical composition and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructure. The range of hardness (H) and Young's modulus (E) observed over an individual tooth was found to be far greater than previously reported. At the enamel surface H>6GPa and E>115GPa, while at the enamel-dentine junction H<3GPa and E<70GPa. These variations corresponded to the changes in chemistry, microstructure, and prism alignment but showed the strongest correlations with changes in the average chemistry of enamel. For example, the concentrations of the constituents of hydroxyapatite (P(2)O(5) and CaO) were highest at the hard occlusal surface and decreased on moving toward the softer enamel-dentine junction. Na(2)O and MgO showed the opposite trend. The mechanical properties of the enamel were also found to differ from the lingual to the buccal side of the molar. At the occlusal surface the enamel was harder and stiffer on the lingual side than on the buccal side. The interior enamel, however, was softer and more compliant on the lingual than on the buccal side, a variation that also correlated with differences in average chemistry and might be related to differences in function.

Saliva is essential for a lifelong conservation of the dentition. Various functions of saliva are implicated in the maintenance of oral health and the protection of our teeth: (i) The tooth surface is continuously protected against wear by a film of salivary mucins and proline-rich glycoprotein. (ii) The early pellicle proteins, proline-rich proteins and statherin, promote remineralization of the enamel by attracting calcium ions. (iii) Demineralization is retarded by the pellicle proteins, in concert with calcium and phosphate ions in saliva and in the plaque fluid. (iv) Several salivary (glyco)proteins prevent the adherence of oral microorganisms to the enamel pellicle and inhibit their growth. (v) The salivary bicarbonate/carbonate buffer system is responsible for rapid neutralization of acids. An overview is presented on the major antimicrobial systems in human saliva. Not only the well-known major salivary glycoproteins, including mucins, proline-rich glycoprotein and immunoglobulins, but also a number of minor salivary (glyco)proteins, including agglutinin, lactoferrin, cystatins and lysozyme, are involved in the first line of defense in the oral cavity. Besides, small cationic antimicrobial peptides, e.g. defensins, cathelicidin and the histatins, have come into focus. These are potentially suited as templates for the design of a new generation of antibiotics, since they kill a broad spectrum of microorganisms, while hardly evoking resistance, in contrast to the classical antibiotics. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with a nano-indentation technique was used to reveal the structure and to perform site-specific mechanical testing of the enamel of third molars. Nano-indentations (size<500 nm) were made in the cusp area to measure the mechanical properties of single enamel rods at different orientations. The influence of etching on the physical properties was studied and etching conditions that did not significantly alter the plastic-elastic response of enamel were defined. Elasticity and hardness were found to be a function of the microstructural texture. Mean Young's moduli of 87.5 (+/-2.2) and 72.2 (+/-4.5) GPa and mean hardness of 3.9+/-0.3 and 3.3+/-0.3 GPa were measured in directions parallel and perpendicular to the enamel rods, respectively. Analysis of variance showed that the differences were significant. The observed anisotropy of enamel is related to the alignment of fibre-like apatite crystals and the composite nature of enamel rods. Mechanical properties were also studied at different locations on single enamel rods. Compared to those in the head area of the rods, Young's moduli and hardness were lower in the tail area and in the inter-rod enamel, which can be attributed to changes in crystal orientation and the higher content of soft organic tissue in these areas.