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Journal of the Royal Society, Interface2016; 13(120); 20160399; doi: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0399

Mechanical modelling of tooth wear.

Abstract: Different diets wear teeth in different ways and generate distinguishable wear and microwear patterns that have long been the basis of palaeodiet reconstructions. Little experimental research has been performed to study them together. Here, we show that an artificial mechanical masticator, a chewing machine, occluding real horse teeth in continuous simulated chewing (of 100 000 chewing cycles) is capable of replicating microscopic wear features and gross wear on teeth that resemble wear in specimens collected from nature. Simulating pure attrition (chewing without food) and four plant material diets of different abrasives content (at n = 5 tooth pairs per group), we detected differences in microscopic wear features by stereomicroscopy of the chewing surface in the number and quality of pits and scratches that were not always as expected. Using computed tomography scanning in one tooth per diet, absolute wear was quantified as the mean height change after the simulated chewing. Absolute wear increased with diet abrasiveness, originating from phytoliths and grit. In combination, our findings highlight that differences in actual dental tissue loss can occur at similar microwear patterns, cautioning against a direct transformation of microwear results into predictions about diet or tooth wear rate.
© 2016 The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2016-07-15 PubMed ID: 27411727PubMed Central: PMC4971227DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0399Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research examines how different diets affect tooth wear patterns by using a mechanical model that simulated chewing with real horse teeth. Findings reveal that not only does diet have direct implications on tooth wear, but also it cautions against the assumption that similar microwear patterns equate to similar tooth wear rate or diet.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The main objective of this research was to understand the correlation between diet and tooth wear. The researchers hoped to identify distinct wear and microwear patterns that can provide insights into dietary considerations.
  • The study’s methodology involved the use of an artificial mechanical masticator, essentially a chewing machine, which functioned with real horse teeth. This machine was subjected to an extended simulation of chewing, performing 100,000 chewing cycles.
  • The experiment simulated pure attrition (chewing without food) and four different diet types containing varying levels of abrasive components. Each diet type was assigned to five different pairs of teeth for the test.

Findings

  • The researchers found that the different diets did indeed create unique microscopic wear patterns on the teeth. These patterns were observed using stereomicroscopy on the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
  • Differences in the number and quality of pits and scratches were observed on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. However, these differences were not always as anticipated by the research team.
  • Absolute wear was measured using computed tomography scanning on one tooth from each diet group. The wear was identified by calculating the mean height change after the simulation. It was found that with more abrasive diets, absolute wear increased.
  • Interestingly, the wear was not just caused by the plant material in the diet, but also from phytoliths (tiny silica particles produced by plants) and grit.

Implications

  • The significant revelation from the findings is that even with similar microwear patterns, the actual tooth loss could vary. This counters the assumption that microwear results can directly predict the diet or rate of tooth wear.
  • This discovery provides pertinent information for both historical and current dietary analysis. It cautions against drawing direct conclusions about diet or tooth wear rate based on microwear patterns.
  • Overall, the research emphasizes the intricate effects diet can have on dental health, with potential implications for dietary recommendations and oral health strategies in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Karme A, Rannikko J, Kallonen A, Clauss M, Fortelius M. (2016). Mechanical modelling of tooth wear. J R Soc Interface, 13(120), 20160399. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2016.0399

Publication

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
ISSN: 1742-5662
NlmUniqueID: 101217269
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 120
PII: 20160399

Researcher Affiliations

Karme, Aleksis
  • Department of Geosciences and Geography, Division of Biogeosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland aleksis.karme@helsinki.fi.
Rannikko, Janina
  • Department of Geosciences and Geography, Division of Biogeosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland janina.rannikko@helsinki.fi.
Kallonen, Aki
  • Department of Physics, Division of Materials Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Clauss, Marcus
  • Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Fortelius, Mikael
  • Department of Geosciences and Geography, Division of Biogeosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Mastication
  • Models, Biological
  • Molar / pathology
  • Molar / physiopathology
  • Tooth Wear / pathology
  • Tooth Wear / physiopathology

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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