New dentine-like material may replace extracted teeth for dental research

The collection of extracted teeth has become more difficult, especially in countries with a high level of medical care, owing to the increased longevity of teeth because of improved oral health and the development of minimally invasive dental treatments. Human tooth samples require cleaning and disinfection, which can be complicated and time-consuming. Concern for biosafety has only increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the standards for ethical approval have become stricter. Another factor is the great variety in the sizes and shapes of extracted teeth, which may result in considerable variation in test results.

The research team formed two composite materials mimicking the size and shape of natural teeth and bonded them to lithium disilicate crowns to test the materials’ mechanical strength, elastic properties, indentation hardness and fatigue behaviour. The composite materials showed elastic properties, indentation hardness and fatigue performance similar to that of natural dentine; however, the researchers observed differences in mechanical strength.

“This study evaluated the mechanical properties and fatigue behaviour of dentine analogue materials experimentally, analytically and numerically, and found a material [that] can reliably replace human dentine as the substrate in a ceramic crown fatigue test,” said lead author Dr James Tsoi, associate professor in dental materials science from the Faculty of Dentistry at HKU, in a press release.

“We hope this study can help researchers who are facing the problem of inadequate extracted human teeth and facilitate predictable laboratory research with the aid of dentine analogue materials,” he added.

The study, titled “Which dentine analogue material can replace human dentine for crown fatigue test?”, was published in the January 2023 issue of Dental Materials.