Breaking crown dentine in whole teeth: 3D observations of prevalent fracture patterns following overload

Study on the adverse effect of acid-corrosion on the dentin in terms of degradation of fracture resistance

Human dentin is known for its hierarchical structure through long-term evolution. Dental caries, embodied by dentin demineralization, is ascribed to a different reaction between peritubular dentin (PTD) and intertubular dentin (ITD) to acid dissolution. This study sheds light on the adverse effect of acid on dentin in terms of degradation of its fracture toughness (FT) due to the acid dissolution-induced corrosion of PTD. A scanning electronic microscope (SEM) is utilized to visualize the difference between normal and acid-treated dentin subjected to the same loading method in terms of crack propagation performance. 3D simulative representative volume elements (RVEs) are developed to analyze the effect of PTD missing on the performance of dentin fracture resistance (FR). The results indicate PTD plays a significant role in enhancing dentin FR capability and thus reveals the importance of structural integrity for dentin.

Effect of Tooth Bleach on Dentin Fatigue Resistance in Situ

BACKGROUND

Negative effects of bleaching on dentin have previously been reported in vitro.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of carbamide peroxide bleaching on dentin fatigue resistance using a clinically relevant in situ model.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Following research ethics board approval, 60 human teeth requiring extraction were collected. Sterilized human dentin specimens were cut (1.2x1.2x10 mm) and secured into customized bleaching trays to be used by study participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either bleach (10% carbamide peroxide, n=23) or control (gel without bleach, n=26) treatment groups. Treatment was applied to the bleaching trays and worn overnight by participants for 14 days. After treatment completion, dentin specimens were removed from the bleaching trays and subjected to fatigue testing (10 N, 3 mm/s, 2x105 cycles) while submerged in artificial saliva. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to compare the number of cycles to failure during fatigue testing in both groups. A log rank test was run to determine if there were differences in the survival distribution between the two groups (α<0.05).

RESULTS

The median number of cycles to failure was 352 ± 202 and 760 ± 644 for the bleach and control groups, respectively. The survival distributions for the two groups were significantly different (p=0.020). Dentin fatigue resistance was significantly lower in the bleach group compared to the control.

CONCLUSIONS

Direct bleaching of human dentin using an at-home tray bleaching protocol in situ reduced dentin fatigue resistance. This has implications for tooth fracture risk and longevity.

Effects of cryopreservation on the biomechanical properties of dentin in cryopreserved teeth: An in-vitro study

This study focused on the biomechanical properties and microstructural changes in dentin of teeth in different age groups after cryopreserved for different durations. Ninety third molars from three age groups (youth group, middle-age group, and elderly group), were collected and randomly divided into three groups according to freezing time at -196 °C (7 days, 30 days, and 90 days). Control group was shored at ordinary temperature. After rewarming, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the dentin were measured with an electronic universal tester. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the microstructure of dentin after cryopreservation. After cryopreservation, the compressive strength of the teeth in each experimental group was not significantly different from control group. With the increase of freezing time and age, dentin's elastic modulus showed a decreasing trend. There were statistically significances between the control group and freezing 90d group, freezing 7d and 90d group, youth and middle-aged group, youth and elderly group (P < 0.05). Both freezing time and age factors were significant for the elastic modulus of dentin(P＜0.05). There was no interaction effect for age and freezing time. In transverse sections of scanning electron microscopy, the dentinal tubule became narrower, partially occluded, and more easily adhered to impurities in the long freezing time and elderly group. In longitudinal sections, with freezing time and age, the inner wall of the dentinal tubules became rough especially in the aged group cryopreserved for 90 days. No significant microcracks exited in any of the longitudinal sections of dentin.

Manifestation and Mechanisms of Abnormal Mineralization in Teeth

Tooth biomineralization is a dynamic and complicated process influenced by local and systemic factors. Abnormal mineralization in teeth occurs when factors related to physiologic mineralization are altered during tooth formation and after tooth maturation, resulting in microscopic and macroscopic manifestations. The present Review provides timely information on the mechanisms and structural alterations of different forms of pathological tooth mineralization. A comprehensive study of these alterations benefits diagnosis and biomimetic treatment of abnormal mineralization in patients.

Cementum thickening leads to lower whole tooth mobility and reduced root stresses: An in silico study on aging effects during mastication

In the course of a lifetime the crowns of teeth wear off, cementum thickens and the pulp closes-in or may stiffen. Little is known about how these changes affect the tooth response to load. Using a series of finite element models of teeth attached to the jawbone, and by comparing these to a validated model of a 'young' pig 3-rooted tooth, the effects of these structural changes were studied. Models of altered teeth show a stiffer response to mastication even when material properties used are identical to those found in 'young' teeth. This stiffening response to occlusal loads is mostly caused by the thicker cementum found in 'old' teeth. Tensile stresses associated with bending of dentine in the roots fall into a narrower distribution range with lower peak values. It is speculated that this is a possible protective adaptation mechanism of the aging tooth to avoid fracture. The greatest reduction in lateral motion was seen in the bucco-lingual direction. We propose that greater tooth motion during mastication is typical for the young growing animal. This motion is reduced in adulthood, favoring less off-axis loading, possibly to counteract natural bone resorption and consequent compromised anchoring.