IADR Abstract Archives
Bio-tribology: A Tool to Understand Parameters Governing Tooth Cleaning Mechanisms
Objectives: The aim of the present work is to identify the parameters affecting tooth cleaning by using a third body concept tribological approach. The understanding of contact dynamics involved during teeth brushing proved to be an efficient way to analyze oral silica behavior.
Methods: Borosilicate glass N-BK7 plates (CVI Melles Griot PW1-1012-C) were chosen as enamel substitute. To mimic enamel morphology and acquired enamel pellicule, plates were texturized and chemically treated with salivary glycoproteins. Plates were brushed with ISO11609 slurry of Tixosil® 63 and Tixosil SoftClean™ abrasive silica on an experimental bio-tribometer integrating an optical/confocal microscope, a 3-axis displacement device and forces recorder.
Results: The experimental results of friction coefficient measurements combined with advanced microscopy analysis (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy) of post-mortem samples demonstrate that tooth cleaning is a complex process controlled by multiple factors, such as tooth surface morphology and silica morphology.
Conclusions: The experimental results validated the tribological approach as a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms involved during brushing. The fundamental understanding of these mechanisms will lead to a better optimization of tooth cleaning.
Methods: Borosilicate glass N-BK7 plates (CVI Melles Griot PW1-1012-C) were chosen as enamel substitute. To mimic enamel morphology and acquired enamel pellicule, plates were texturized and chemically treated with salivary glycoproteins. Plates were brushed with ISO11609 slurry of Tixosil® 63 and Tixosil SoftClean™ abrasive silica on an experimental bio-tribometer integrating an optical/confocal microscope, a 3-axis displacement device and forces recorder.
Results: The experimental results of friction coefficient measurements combined with advanced microscopy analysis (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy) of post-mortem samples demonstrate that tooth cleaning is a complex process controlled by multiple factors, such as tooth surface morphology and silica morphology.
Conclusions: The experimental results validated the tribological approach as a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms involved during brushing. The fundamental understanding of these mechanisms will lead to a better optimization of tooth cleaning.