Application Note | Dental Wear
Tooth Wear Measurement Using 3D Profilometry
Volume, Area and Depth of a Chewing-Simulator Wear Track on a Tooth
Research & Experimental Testing
Andrea Herrmann
Visual Design & Editorial
Andrew Shore
Introduction
The wear resistance of our teeth is an important area of study in the dental medical field. No matter what kind of wear in particular is being studied, or the means by which the wear is produced, there is always a need to characterize the resulting wear track. This could include the maximum depth, width and surface area of the wear track, as well as the volume of material lost.
Importance of 3D Non-Contact Profilometry for Wear Study
Unlike other techniques such as touch probes or interferometry, the 3D Non-Contact Profilometer, using axial chromatism, can measure nearly any surface; sample sizes can vary widely due to open staging and there is no sample preparation needed. Nano through macro range is obtained during surface profile measurement with zero influence from sample reflectivity or absorption, with advanced ability to measure high surface angles and no software manipulation of results. It easily measures any material: transparent, opaque, specular, diffusive, polished, rough, etc. The technique of the non-contact profilometer provides an ideal, broad and user friendly capability to maximize surface studies when volume loss measurements are needed, along with the benefits of combined 2D and 3D capability.
ℹ️ Learn more about surface profiling lab services.
Measurement Objective
In this application, the NANOVEA ST400 Profilometer is used to measure the surface of a tooth sample mounted in epoxy that has been put through a chewing simulator. The area measured was the resulting wear and the surrounding surface area. The maximum width, depth, perimeter, surface area and volume lost are used to characterize the wear track.
NANOVEA ST400 Standard
Optical 3D Profilometer
Results
3D Surface
The 3D view and false color view of the tooth and surrounding epoxy mount show a significant curved wear track produced by a chewing simulator. They provide users a straightforward tool to directly observe the morphology of the wear track from different angles. A volume-of-a-hole study was used to calculate the surface area, volume, maximum depth and mean depth of the wear track, using the surrounding tooth surface as the reference plane.
| Volume of a hole | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface | 32.06 mm² |
| Volume | 4.871 mm³ |
| Maximum depth | 0.4560 mm |
| Mean depth | 0.1519 mm |
Table 1: Wear track results from the volume-of-a-hole study (from Fig. 3).
2D Surface Analysis
Line profiles can also be extracted from the surface to show a cross-sectional view of the wear track. The contour analysis and area-of-a-hole studies were used to measure precise dimensions at a certain location on the wear track.
Conclusion
In this application, we have shown how the NANOVEA 3D Non-Contact Profilometer can precisely characterize a wear track created on a tooth sample, or any other material. The data shows a total volume loss of 4.871 mm³. The developed surface area of the wear track was found to be 32.06 mm² and the maximum depth was 0.456 mm. These values, along with the parameters used to produce the wear track, can be used to calculate the wear rate of the tooth and compare the wear resistance of different samples. The data shown here represents only a portion of the calculations available in the analysis software.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Wear Measurement
Why measure tooth wear tracks in 3D?
However the wear is produced, it has to be characterized: maximum depth, width and surface area of the track and the volume of material lost, all of which come from one 3D scan.
How was the tooth worn?
The tooth sample, mounted in epoxy, was put through a chewing simulator, producing a significant curved wear track.
How much material was lost?
A volume-of-a-hole study, using the surrounding tooth surface as the reference plane, gave a volume loss of 4.871 mm³, a developed surface area of 32.06 mm², a maximum depth of 0.456 mm and a mean depth of 0.1519 mm.
What did the cross-section show?
A profile across the track measured 3.37 mm wide and 297.2 µm deep at that location, with a hole area of 0.7934 mm².
Can wear rate be calculated?
Yes. Combined with the parameters used to produce the wear track, these values give the wear rate of the tooth and allow wear resistance of different samples to be compared.
Does the epoxy mount interfere?
No. Non-contact measurement handles the tooth and the surrounding epoxy alike, with no sample preparation and no influence from reflectivity.
