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Published on: March 7, 2014
In vitro fatigue behavior of human dentin with implications for life prediction
R K Nalla1, V Imbeni, J H Kinney
1Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|July 2, 2003
Summary
Human dentin fatigue failure was quantified under cyclic loading. Small initial flaws (approx. 250 micrometers) in teeth do not significantly impact their functional lifespan, according to fatigue and fracture mechanics analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Dental Mechanics
- Fracture Mechanics
Background:
- Human dentin is susceptible to fatigue failure under cyclic loading.
- Quantifying this fatigue phenomenon in dentin is crucial for understanding tooth longevity.
- Existing literature lacks comprehensive fatigue data for human dentin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the effects of prolonged cyclic loading on human dentin.
- To generate stress-life (S/N) data for dentin fatigue analysis.
- To develop a fracture mechanics framework for predicting tooth fatigue life.
Main Methods:
- Cyclic fatigue loading tests on human dentin in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at 2 Hz and 20 Hz.
- In situ stiffness loss measurements during fatigue testing.
- Analysis of fatigue crack propagation rates (da/dN) versus stress-intensity range (Delta K).
Main Results:
- Stress-life (S/N) data were obtained, characterizing dentin's fatigue behavior.
- Crack velocities and thresholds were deduced from in situ stiffness loss data.
- Fatigue crack propagation rates (da/dN) were plotted against the stress-intensity range (Delta K).
Conclusions:
- The study provides crucial fatigue data for human dentin.
- A fracture mechanics-based methodology for predicting tooth fatigue life is proposed.
- Small incipient flaws (approx. 250 micrometers) are unlikely to significantly reduce the functional life of teeth.
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