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Enamel subsurface damage due to tooth preparation with diamonds
H H Xu1, J R Kelly, S Jahanmir
1Paffenbarger Research Center, American Dental Association Health Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|November 5, 1997
Summary
Tooth preparation with diamond burs can cause subsurface enamel damage, forming cracks. Finer diamond burs and specific enamel orientations minimize this damage, crucial for dental procedures.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tooth Structure Mechanics
Background:
- Clinical tooth preparation using diamond burs removes tooth structure.
- Subsurface damage in enamel during preparation is a concern.
- Limited data exists on the mechanisms and extent of this damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate subsurface damage mechanisms in enamel during tooth preparation.
- Examine damage dependence on enamel rod orientation, diamond particle size, and removal rate.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated subsurface damage using a bonded-interface technique.
- Performed tooth preparation on two enamel rod orientations.
- Utilized four clinical diamond burs (coarse, medium, fine, superfine).
Main Results:
- Subsurface damage included median-type cracks and microcracks, often along enamel rod boundaries.
- Median-type cracks were longer parallel to enamel rods.
- Coarse burs created cracks up to 84 µm deep; fine burs aided crack removal.
- Crack lengths were insensitive to removal rate variations.
Conclusions:
- Subsurface damage manifests as median-type and microcracks (inter- and intra-rod).
- Crack dimensions are influenced by diamond particle size and enamel rod orientation.
- Removal rate did not significantly affect crack lengths.