Method: The Rub&Roll consists of a container in which a cylinder with specimen holder is placed connected to a stirring motor, which drives another cylinder (rod). The rod rotates in an opposite direction to the rotation of the stirring motor, rolling over the specimens mounted in the cylinder. When the rod contacts the specimen a force of up to 70N is applied to mimic processes in the oral environment. In the container different kinds of liquids and abrasive slurries can be applied during the testing procedure, allowing a controlled mechanical and chemical loading. Two application examples are presented. Combined erosive and abrasive wear of enamel exposed to apple juice or apple pulp and orange juice or orange pulp (1300 contacts, 60 min, 30 N) and the influence of mechanical loading cycles (750,000 contacts, 3 weeks, 30N) on flexural bond strength of an adhesive system to dentin.
Result: The wear expressed in enamel loss for apple juice and apple pulp was 11,6 ± 3.1 µm and 24,8 ± 4.3 µm and the orange juice and orange pulp was 10.3 ± 2.9 µm and 18.8 ± 3.1 µm, respectively. The addition of apple pulp and orange pulp significantly (p<0.001, t-test) increased the enamel wear. For the bonding study, the mechanically loaded group (196 ± 87N) showed about 35% loss of bond strength compared to a non-aged group (307 ± 78N), the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The Rub&Roll was shown to be able to simulate both erosive tooth wear processes, and the deterioration of adhesive bonds to dentin.