Dental

Why measure the physical properties of dental products?

The worldwide effort to push forward standards for the provision of quality oral health care is driving a large research effort in both academic and industrial settings of orthodontics.

A large component of this research is based around mechanical property measurement, ensuring the products used by dentists and consumers have optimal performance. Using instruments that measure the tensile and compressional properties of dental material and components can play a pivotal role in measuring product conformity and compliance with standards as well as analysing and controlling the desired mechanical or textural properties of any new or existing product for the market.

A Texture Analyser is a very useful tool for the research and development associated with dental products and has the capability to perform both imitative and fundamental measurements. Dental product testing solutions include dental fixative adhesiveness, chewing gum hardness, stickiness and coating crispiness, toothpaste consistency and extrudability, and dental floss tensile strength, as well as many more.

Person applying toothpaste to a toothbrush

How a Texture Analyser can be applied to dental physical property measurement?

Dental products, from orthodontic materials to restorative compounds, have unique mechanical requirements to ensure durability, safety, and comfort. The use of a Texture Analyser can be invaluable in assessing and optimising these attributes. Here's how it can be employed in the development and manufacture of dental products:

Ensuring durability: By assessing properties like compressive and tensile strength, manufacturers can ensure that dental restoratives, such as fillings and crowns, can withstand the masticatory forces exerted in the mouth over time.
Optimising adhesiveness: By measuring the adhesive strength of products like dental cements, bonding agents, or orthodontic adhesives, practitioners can be assured of their retention and longevity, minimizing the risk of debonding or product failure.
Evaluating elasticity: For products like dental impression materials or orthodontic elastics, understanding their elasticity ensures they perform as expected, reverting to their original form after deformation, providing accurate moulds or consistent orthodontic forces, respectively.
Standardising products: Consistent texture and physical properties are crucial for products like dental waxes or prophylactic pastes. A Texture Analyser can ensure that these products maintain a standardised consistency, leading to predictable performance and user experience.
Improving patient comfort: By assessing the hardness or softness of dental prosthetics, such as dentures or mouthguards, manufacturers can optimize them for maximum patient comfort while ensuring durability.
R&D and innovation: Texture Analysers can play a pivotal role in the development of new dental products. By evaluating the properties of novel materials or formulations, researchers can fine-tune their products for optimal performance.
Quality control: Regular assessments using a Texture Analyser can ensure that batches of dental products, whether they are cements, impression materials, or others, maintain consistent physical properties. This consistency ensures reliability and performance standards that dental professionals expect.
Comparison with competing products: Texture Analysers can help benchmark a product against competitors, guiding development efforts.
Regulatory compliance: Meeting industry standards and regulations often requires specific tests to ensure product safety and efficacy. A Texture Analyser can provide the quantitative data necessary for regulatory submissions and approvals.

The use of a Texture Analyser in the dental industry ensures that products are not only effective and reliable but also safe and comfortable for patients, fostering trust and satisfaction among both practitioners and the end-users.

Typical measurements

Texture Analysers are versatile instruments that can evaluate a range of mechanical properties for various materials, including:

Hardness

Evaluates the resistance of dental materials, such as fillings, crowns, or dentures, to localised deformation. Especially important for materials expected to resist masticatory forces and is critical for long-term durability.

Elasticity and flexibility

Orthodontic materials, such as those used for braces or retainers, need to exhibit a certain degree of flexibility without breaking. Evaluating this property helps optimize comfort and durability.

Adhesiveness

Dental adhesives need to maintain a strong bond under challenging conditions, such as moisture in the mouth. A Texture Analyser can gauge the adhesive strength and performance of these products by measuring the force required to detach dental adhesives or cements from dental tissues or prosthetic materials.

Setting time and strength

For products that harden over time (e.g., cements or fillings), understanding their setting kinetics and final strength.

Fracture toughness

Quantifies the ability of a material with an existing crack to resist further fracture — vital for materials like dental ceramics.

Wear resistance

Assesses durability or how well dental materials like restoratives or prosthetics resist abrasion and wear over time, mimicking conditions in the oral environment.

Tensile strength

Gauges the maximum force a dental material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before failing or breaking.

Shear strength

Important for assessing the resistance of dental cements, adhesives, or bonding agents to shearing forces.

Bioadhesive force

Assesses the ability of dental products, such as adhesives, cements, or restorative materials, to adhere to biological surfaces like teeth or dental tissues.

Compression strength

For products like dental crowns or bridges, understanding their resistance to compressive forces can help predict their lifespan under the forces of chewing and biting.

Elastic modulus (Young's modulus)

Assesses the stiffness of a material. It's particularly crucial for understanding the flexibility and rigidity of dental materials to match natural tooth behaviour.

Consistency and spreadability

Evaluating the workability of dental cements, pastes, or impression materials.

Chewing simulation

Testing the durability and wear of restorative materials or dental prosthetics under simulated chewing conditions.

Abrasion resistance

Evaluating how dental materials withstand abrasive forces, like those from tooth brushing.

Extrudability

For products in tubes or syringes, such as certain cements or impression materials, assessing the force required for extrusion.

Elongation at break

Measures the extent to which a material, such as dental floss or elastomeric impression materials, can be stretched before it ruptures.

Creep and recovery

Evaluates the slow deformation of materials like dental composites under constant stress over time and their ability to revert to their original form post-stress removal.

Toothbrush bristle stiffness

(BS EN ISO 20126)

By assessing these mechanical properties, manufacturers and researchers can optimise dental product formulations, ensure longevity and patient comfort, and adhere to stringent industry standards.

Typical graphs indicating relevant physical property parameters

Toothpaste tube extrusion test using the Sachet/Tube Extrusion Rig

Comparison of stiction and friction characteristics of coarse and fine dental abrasive strips using the Abrasion Test Rig

Typical product test and graph

Case studies

Whether its providing the solution for Tufts University School of Dental Medicine to measure wear simulation of dental ceramics, allowing Herdecke University’s School of Dentistry to measure removal forces of implanted crowns or offering a method for the University of Otago’s School of Dentistry to compare the bond strength of porcelain to enamel and dentin preparations, a Texture Analyser is adaptable and flexible in its application to measure the bespoke mechanical properties of your product and then enable its quality to be controlled in your manufacturing to guarantee consistency and customer satisfaction.

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How does Waltham Petcare Science Institute measure the mechanical properties of chewable products for canines using their chewing robot – Watch this and they’ll show you how

With deep expertise in dental product mechanical analysis, we’re well equipped to support innovation in this sector – just ask our customers.

Probes and attachments for measuring the physical properties of dental products

A wide range of probes and attachments can be integrated with our instruments, allowing testing to be precisely adapted to the material or product under evaluation. Applications include the Abrasion Test Rig to compare the abrasiveness of interdental strips, bending tests to assess toothbrush bristles offer the correct stiffness or adhesive tests to measure denture fixative properties.

Over the years, we have collaborated with leading scientists and organisations in the dental industry to design and refine attachments that address highly specific testing requirements. When a suitable solution did not already exist, we developed one – the Abrasion Test Rig (for tooth reduction assessment) forms part of our growing portfolio of Community Registered Designs.

The examples provided illustrate a selection of specialised attachments and commonly performed measurements within this application area. This list is not exhaustive; a wide range of additional options are available for the testing of dental products. All instruments in the Texture Analyser range can be used to perform the tests described.

Abrasion Test Rig

Analyses the frictional properties of e.g. inter-dental abrasive strips for tooth reduction.

Cylinder Probes

Allow the measurement of toothbrush bristle stiffness or hardness and compressibility.

Three Point Bend Rig

Allows the assessment of flexure of e.g. archwires.

Sachet/Tube Extrusion Rig

Quantifies the ease of removal and application of toothpaste.

Horizontal Friction System

Allows the performance of wear simulation of e.g. ceramic structures in the mouth.

Self-tightening Roller Grips

Provides a solution to assess tensile properties and a measure of breaking strength of e.g. dental floss.

Mucoadhesion Test Rig

Mucoadhesion measurement of solid dosage forms, semi-solids and even systems which solidify on contact with the target mucosa can be performed.

Multi-hole Indexing Plate

Allows the measurement of denture fixative adhesion properties.

Test methods

Exponent Connect software includes a comprehensive range of test methods for dental products, all instantly accessible at the click of a button. We streamline your texture testing process, ensuring faster access to methods and ready-to-use analysis files for your product properties.

Using the Texture Analyser for new dental material and product ideas

Dental product research and development is a multifaceted domain, covering restorative materials, oral care products, prosthodontics, and more.

Here are some of the recent trends and innovations in dental product research and development:

Bioactive restorative materials

These materials stimulate the natural healing and remineralization processes of teeth. They are not just passive fillings but interact with the surrounding tooth structure.

Smart toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes integrated with sensors and paired with mobile apps to give feedback on brushing technique.

3D printing

Used for creating dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and even orthodontic devices.

Teeth whitening innovations

More effective and gentler methods for teeth whitening, including blue light technology.

Customised dental solutions

Using AI and machine learning to tailor dental treatments and products to individual patients. Dentures designed using digital scans and CAD/CAM technology for a precise and comfortable fit.

Probiotic oral care

Products containing beneficial bacteria to counteract harmful oral microbes and potentially reduce oral diseases.

Nanocomposites

Fillings that incorporate nanoscale particles to improve strength, durability, and aesthetics.

Natural oral care products

Toothpaste, mouthwash, and other products formulated with natural ingredients, avoiding synthetic chemicals and additives.

Regenerative procedures

Techniques and products that aim to regenerate lost tooth structures, including the use of stem cells.

Oral microbiome balancers

Products designed to promote a balanced oral microbiome, enhancing overall oral health.

Slow-release drug delivery

Incorporating therapeutic agents in dental products (like mouthwash or toothpaste) that release slowly over time for prolonged benefits.

Edible dental products

Chewing gums or lozenges infused with agents to combat oral bacteria, neutralise pH, or promote oral health.

Here is some recent interesting research in dental product development using the Texture Analyser:

Measure the physical properties of dental products