On the Possibility of Describing the Microstructure of Human Dentin as Soft Matrix Filled by Solid Particles

Abstract

Experimental verification of the applicability of self-similar hierarchical mechanics model for calculation of the mechanical properties of human dentin was carried out. A comparison of the deformation behavior of human dentin with the several polymer based dental composites under compression and bending was performed. It was shown that the deformation behavior of some highly filled composites was close to human dentin in the elastic regime whereas they cannot be deformed plastically under compression. Low filled composites possess higher plasticity, but a lower Young's modulus than dentin under compression. Mechanical properties of a highly filled composite (∼60%, by volume) with smaller size of fillers are closer to the properties of human dentin under bending whereas other tested dental materials have a lower Young's modulus and flexural strength in comparison with dentin. Therefore, we concluded that it was impossible to achieve complete combination of the mechanical properties of human dentin such as high elasticity and plasticity at high strength by means of varying the amount and size of solid filler in polymer matrix. Self-similar hierarchical mechanics model can be used for describing of the deformation behavior of human dentin in elastic regime and one level is sufficient for these calculations. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.