Ceramic-like wear behaviour of human dental enamel

This paper reports a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of subsurfaces of enamel specimens following in vitro reciprocating wear tests with an enamel cusp sliding on a flat enamel specimen under hydrated conditions. The obtained results show that crack formation occurred in the wear scar subsurface. The path followed by these cracks seems to be dictated either by the histological structure of enamel or by the contact stress field. Moreover, the analysis of a set of enamel wear results obtained from the literature and application of fracture-based models, originally developed for ceramics, correlate well, confirming the similar wear processes taking place in these materials. This analysis also reveals a marked influence of coefficient of friction on the enamel wear rate: for a higher coefficient of friction value, enamel wear can be severe even under forces generated during normal operation of teeth.

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► TEM analysis of enamel wear scar subsurface following in vitro testing.
► Wear scar subsurface crack formation confirmed.
► Application of fracture based wear model to enamel.
► Prediction of influence of coefficient of friction on enamel wear.
► Wear can be severe under forces generated during normal operation of teeth.