Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
08:47
Mimicking and Measuring Occlusal Erosive Tooth Wear with the "Rub&Roll" and Non-contact Profilometry
Published on: February 2, 2018
Using bearing area parameters to quantify early erosive tooth surface changes in enamel: a pilot study.
James Field1, Matthew German, Paula Waterhouse
1Restorative Dentistry, Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences, United Kingdom.
Journal of Dentistry
|September 4, 2013
Summary
Measuring bearing area parameters alongside roughness average (Ra) reveals crucial enamel surface differences missed by Ra alone. Including these parameters enhances surface analysis in dental erosion studies.
Area of Science:
- Dental research
- Surface metrology
- Biomaterials science
Background:
- Surface roughness average (Ra) is commonly used in dental erosion studies.
- Ra alone may not fully represent complex surface topography.
- Baseline enamel surface characteristics are often underreported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if bearing area parameters, in addition to Ra, improve enamel surface characterization.
- To test if bearing parameters offer more insight than Ra alone after erosion.
Main Methods:
- Human and bovine incisor enamel samples were prepared and polished.
- Baseline and post-erosion surface characteristics were measured using Ra and bearing parameters (MR1, MR2, Rpk, Rk, Rvk).
- Samples were subjected to erosion with 1% citric acid.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in Ra between human and bovine enamel at baseline or post-erosion.
- Significant differences in bearing parameters were detected that Ra alone did not identify.
- Bearing parameters provided additional discriminatory information on enamel surface changes.
Conclusions:
- Roughness average (Ra) alone can misrepresent enamel surface features.
- Bearing parameters are essential for comprehensive surface analysis of enamel.
- Including bearing parameters in profilometric measurements is recommended for future dental erosion studies.
