Title: The solid particle erosion behaviour of dental enamel using a novel air abrasion system

Authors: M. Papini, A.O. Oladeinde, J.K. Spelt, P.M. Aumuller

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G8, Canada. ' iX Research Ltd, 640 Stouffville Road Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4E 3P5, Canada

Abstract: The erosion rate of the enamel of human premolars, molars and canines was measured at various angles of attack using a dental air abrasion unit equipped with a novel particle containment system consisting of a conical water spray surrounding the central air/particle jet. This water curtain minimised the amount of airborne abrasive particles and erosion debris. No statistically significant difference in erosion rate was found between samples blasted with or without the particle containment system. The dental enamel was found to behave in a brittle erosive manner, exhibiting a maximum in erosion rate with the abrasive jet oriented perpendicular to the surface. The observed dependency of erosion rate on the type of tooth could be explained on the basis of differing hardness. Artificial dental block samples showed significantly lower erosion rates compared to human dental enamel, implying that they are not suitable for simulating the solid particle erosion behaviour of teeth.

Keywords: dental air abrasion; erosion rate; hardness; solid particle erosion; dental enamel; particle containment; abrasive particles; erosion debris; abrasive jets; artificial dental block samples; simulation; teeth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAT.2010.032836

International Journal of Abrasive Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.2, pp.92 - 104

Published online: 25 Apr 2010 *

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