Surface energy of bovine dentin and enamel by means of inverse gas chromatography

• Surface energy of tooth tissues was determined by inverse gas chromatography.
• Bovine teeth were applied as a substitute for human teeth.
• The influence of storing conditions and occurring place was examined.
• Different surface activity of dentin and enamel was observed.

Adhesion between tooth tissues and dental fillings depends on the surface energy of both connected materials. Bond strength can be determined directly or indirectly as a work of adhesion on the basis of values of surface energy of these materials. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) is one of the methods of surface energy examination. In this study the values of total surface energy components of wet and dry teeth fragments (enamel, crown dentin and root dentin) were determined with the use of inverse gas chromatography. Inverse gas chromatography has never been used for investigation of surface energy of natural tooth tissues. Different storage conditions were examined — wet and dry. Different values of surface energy are observed according to the type of tooth tissue (dentin or enamel), occurring place (crown or root) and storage conditions (dry or wet). The effect of tissue type and occurring place was the greatest, while storage conditions were of secondary importance. Surface energy depends on composition of tissue, its surface area and the presence of pores.

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