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Related Concept Videos

Tooth Anatomy01:21

Tooth Anatomy

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The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
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Teeth01:15

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The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
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Essential Minerals for Bone Health01:31

Essential Minerals for Bone Health

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The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
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The Bone Matrix01:18

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Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in...
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Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

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Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...
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Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
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Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Published on: August 15, 2018

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Abiotic tooth enamel.

Bongjun Yeom1,2, Trisha Sain3, Naida Lacevic4

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.

Nature
|March 3, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers created enamel-inspired nanocomposites with superior mechanical properties. These biomimetic materials mimic tooth enamel

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Materials Engineering

Background:

  • Tooth enamel's unique columnar structure is conserved across species and geological eras, suggesting a crucial functional role.
  • The natural structure consists of ceramic columns interlaced with a protein matrix, providing exceptional mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate enamel's structure and properties using synthetic nanocomposites.
  • To investigate the mechanical performance and biomimetic potential of engineered columnar materials.

Main Methods:

  • Sequential growth of zinc oxide nanowire carpets.
  • Layer-by-layer deposition of a polymeric matrix around the nanowires.
  • Ex vivo mechanical testing of the resulting nanocomposites.

Main Results:

  • Engineered nanocomposites exhibit mechanical properties, including hardness, comparable to natural enamel.
  • Achieved high viscoelastic figures of merit (VFOM), exceeding traditional material limits.
  • Demonstrated high stiffness, damping, and light weight due to efficient energy dissipation in the organic phase.

Conclusions:

  • Biomimetic design of columnar nanocomposites can yield materials with exceptional resistance to damage.
  • The columnar architecture is key to maximizing energy dissipation and achieving superior mechanical performance.
  • Findings suggest potential for developing advanced load-bearing materials inspired by natural enamel.