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Journal of Dental Research
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Biomaterials & Bioengineering

Compositional Determinants of Mechanical Properties of Enamel

M. Baldassarri1,2, H.C. Margolis1,2 and E. Beniash1,2,*,¶

1 Department of Biomineralization, The Forsyth Institute, Boston, MA, USA; and
2 Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence: * corresponding author, ebeniash{at}pitt.edu

Dental enamel is comprised primarily of carbonated apatite, with less than 1% w/w organic matter and 4–5% w/w water. To determine the influence of each component on the microhardness and fracture toughness of rat incisor enamel, we mechanically tested specimens in which water and organic matrix were selectively removed. Tests were performed in mid-sagittal and transverse orientations to assess the effect of the structural organization on enamel micromechanical properties. While removal of organic matrix resulted in up to a 23% increase in microhardness, and as much as a 46% decrease in fracture toughness, water had a significantly lesser effect on these properties. Moreover, removal of organic matrix dramatically weakened the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ). Analysis of our data also showed that the structural organization of enamel affects its micromechanical properties. We anticipate that these findings will help guide the development of bio-inspired nanostructured materials for mineralized tissue repair and regeneration.

Key Words: dental enamel • fracture toughness • hardness • structure • hydroxyapatite

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 87, No. 7, 645-649 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/154405910808700711
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Z. Xie, M.V Swain, and M.J. Hoffman
Structural Integrity of Enamel: Experimental and Modeling
Journal of Dental Research, June 1, 2009; 88(6): 529 - 533.
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