Revealing the structural and mechanical characteristics of ovine teeth

We found that sheep molar enamel Young's modulus and hardness are both lower than those of human enamel, by approximately 30%, and 9% respectively, while the properties of dentin are similar. The combination of E and H makes the ovine enamel approximately 30% more resistant to wear than human enamel, which is an imperative in ruminant dentition. The results of this study are interpreted in terms of the ovine feeding ecology, and the structure of the ovine molar and its occlusal surface.