Wole Soboyejo
Princeton Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, USA

Functionally Graded/Layered and Biomimetic Structures for Dental Restorations

This paper presents a range of possible functionally-graded/layered and biomimetic structures that can be used to minimize stress concentrations and crack driving forces in dental restorations. Following a brief description of the structure of natural teeth and ceramic crowns that are joined to dentin, the paper highlights the significant reductions in sub-surface stresses that can be achieved by the use of functionally graded structures that minimize the sub-surface stresses that are induced by occlusal contact of dental multilayers. Biomimetic approaches are proposed for the design of multilayered structures that mimic the structure and basic mechanical properties of the dento-enamel-junction (DEJ). The stress distributions in these structures are compared with those in competing multilayered systems with stiff interlayers. Finally, a merit index-based fracture mechanics approach is proposed for the design of functionally-graded/layered dental restorations that are resistant to crack growth.