The mechanical anisotropy on a longitudinal section of human enamel studied by nanoindentation

Metallic Dental Implants Wear Mechanisms, Materials, and Manufacturing Processes: A Literature Review

OBJECTIVES

From the treatment of damaged teeth to replacing missing teeth, dental biomaterials cover the scientific interest of many fields. Dental biomaterials are one of the implants whose effective life depends vastly on their material and manufacturing techniques. The purpose of this review is to summarize the important aspects for metallic dental implants from biomedical, mechanical and materials science perspectives. The review article will focus on five major aspects as mentioned below. Tooth anatomy: Maximizing the implant performance depends on proper understanding of human tooth anatomy and the failure behavior of the implants. Major parts from tooth anatomy including saliva characteristics are explored in this section. Wear mechanisms: The prominent wear mechanisms having a high impact on dental wear are abrasive, adhesive, fatigue and corrosion wear. To imitate the physiological working condition of dental implants, reports on the broad range of mastication force and various composition of artificial saliva have been included in this section, which can affect the tribo-corrosion behavior of dental implants. Dental implants classifications: The review paper includes a dedicated discussion on major dental implants types and their details for better understanding their applicability and characteristics. Implant materials: As of today, the most established dental implant materials are SS316L, cobalt chrome alloy and titanium. Detailed discussion on their material properties, microstructures, phase transformations and chemical compositions have been discussed here. Manufacturing techniques: In terms of different production methods, the lost wax casting method as traditional manufacturing is considered. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) as additive manufacturing techniques (AM) have been discussed. For AM, the relationships between process-property-performance details have been explored briefly. The effectiveness of different manufacturing techniques was compared based on porosity distribution, mechanical and biomechanical properties.

SUMMARY

Despite having substantial research available on dental implants, there is a lack of systematic reviews to present a holistic viewpoint combining state-of-the-art from biomedical, mechanical, materials science and manufacturing perspectives. This review article attempts to combine a wide variety of analyzing approaches from those interdisciplinary fields to deliver deeper insights to researchers both in academia and industry to develop next-generation dental implants.

Transmission of Curing Light through Moist, Air-Dried, and EDTA Treated Dentine and Enamel

Objective. This study measured light transmission through enamel and dentin and the effect of exposed dentinal tubules to light propagation. Methods. Light attenuation through enamel and dentin layers of various thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm) was measured using specimens that were (1) moist and (2) air-dried (n = 5). Measurements were repeated after the specimens were treated with EDTA. Specimens were transilluminated with a light curing unit (maximum power output 1869 mW/cm(2)), and the mean irradiance power of transmitting light was measured. The transmission of light through teeth was studied using 10 extracted intact human incisors and premolars. Results. Transmitted light irradiance through 1 mm thick moist discs was 500 mW/cm(2) for enamel and 398 mW/cm(2) for dentin (p < 0.05). The increase of the specimen thickness decreased light transmission in all groups (p < 0.005), and moist specimens attenuated light less than air-dried specimens in all thicknesses (p < 0.05). EDTA treatment increased light transmission from 398 mW/cm(2) to 439 mW/cm(2) (1 mm dentin specimen thickness) (p < 0.05). Light transmission through intact premolar was 6.2 mW/cm(2) (average thickness 8.2 mm) and through incisor was 37.6 mW/cm(2) (average thickness 5.6 mm). Conclusion. Light transmission through enamel is greater than that through dentin, probably reflecting differences in refractive indices and extinction coefficients. Light transmission through enamel, dentin, and extracted teeth seemed to follow Beer-Lambert's law.

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.

Effect of Pre-reacted Glass-ionomer Filler Extraction Solution on Demineralization of Bovine Enamel

Objective

To determine the effect of pre-reacted glass-ionomer (PRG) filler extraction solution on the demineralization of bovine enamel by measuring changes in the ultrasound transmission velocity.

Methods

The specimens were prepared by cutting bovine teeth into enamel blocks. The specimens were immersed in buffered lactic acid solution for 10 minutes twice a day, and then stored in artificial saliva. Other specimens were stored in PRG filler extraction solution for 10 minutes, followed by 10-minute immersion in the buffered lactic acid solution twice a day. The propagation time of longitudinal ultrasonic waves was measured by a pulser receiver. Six specimens were used for each condition, and analyses of variance followed by Tukey tests (α=0.05) were done.

Results

No changes in sonic velocity were found for specimens stored in the PRG filler extraction solution, indicating that the PRG extraction solution had an effect on inhibiting the demineralization of bovine enamel.

Conclusions

The results obtained with the use of an ultrasound measurement technique suggested that PRG filler extraction solution has the ability to prevent demineralization of enamel.

Principal stiffness orientation and degree of anisotropy of human osteons based on nanoindentation in three distinct planes

Haversian systems or ‘osteons’ are cylindrical structures, formed by bone lamellae, that make up the major part of human cortical bone. Despite their discovery centuries ago in 1691 by Clopton Havers, their mechanical properties are still poorly understood.

The objective of this study is a detailed identification of the anisotropic elastic properties of the secondary osteon in the lamella plane. Additionally, the principal material orientation with respect to the osteon is assessed. Therefore a new nanoindentation method was developed which allows the measurement of indentation data in three distinct planes on a single osteon.

All investigated osteons appeared to be anisotropic with a preferred stiffness alignment along the axial direction with a small average helical winding around the osteon axis. The mean degree of anisotropy was 1.75 ± 0.36 and the mean helix angle was 10.3^°±0.8°.

These findings oppose two well established views of compact bone microstructure: first, the generally clear axial stiffness orientation contradicts a regular ‘twisted plywood’ collagen fibril orientation pattern in lamellar bone that would lead to a more isotropic behavior. Second, the class of transverse osteons were not observed from the mechanical point of view.