title: Experimental studies on the nature of property gradients in the human dentine.
abstract: We conducted an investigation into the nature of dentine mineralization and mechanical property gradients with the aid of experimental techniques such as the fluoroscopic X-ray microanalysis and instrumented microindentation, respectively. It was found that the tooth adapts to a complex structure with significant gradients in properties. We observed a significant correlation between the degree of mineralization within the dentine and the mechanical properties. The natural gradation in mechanical properties is explained by the stress analysis within anatomical-sized tooth specimens done using digital photoelasticity. These results are explained within the context of the functional requirements that are imposed on the tooth. This study highlights tooth structure as a biologically adapted, functionally graded material.
authors.affiliation: Actuators and Sensors Strategic Research Program, School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kishen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ramamurty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asundi
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003804:Dentin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D010777:Photochemistry
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals