Anisotropy of tensile strength of root dentin

Abstract

An effect of dentinal tubule orientation on mechanical properties of dentin has been difficult to demonstrate. We have tested the hypothesis that ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of dentin is affected by tubule (and hence collagen fibril) orientation. The UTS of human root dentin was investigated by direct tensile and diametral testing of specimens of known orientation prepared from extracted teeth. Dumbbell-shaped samples were machined for direct tensile testing (load parallel or perpendicular to tubule direction) and cylinders for diametral testing (load at 0°, 45°, 67.5°, and 90°). Fractured surfaces were examined by SEM. UTS was lowest when the tensile force was parallel to tubule orienta..