Phytoliths Can Cause Tooth Wear

Overview

Journal J R Soc Interface

Specialties Biology
Biomedical Engineering
Biophysics

Date 2020 Nov 4

PMID 33143592

Citations 4

Authors

Fernando Rodriguez-Rojas

Oscar Borrero-Lopez

Paul J Constantino

Amanda G Henry

Brian R Lawn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Comparative laboratory sliding wear tests on extracted human molar teeth in artificial saliva with third-body particulates demonstrate that phytoliths can be as effective as silica grit in the abrasion of enamel. A pin-on-disc wear testing configuration is employed, with an extracted molar cusp as a pin on a hard disc antagonist, under loading conditions representative of normal chewing forces. Concentrations and sizes of phytoliths in the wear test media match those of silica particles. Cusp geometries and ensuing abrasion volumes are measured by digital profilometry. The wear data are considered in relation to a debate by evolutionary biologists concerning the relative capacities of intrinsic mineral bodies within plant tissue and exogenous grit in the atmosphere to act as agents of tooth wear in various animal species.

Citing Articles

Effect of Post-Processing Heat Treatment on Micro-Contact Damage of Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Dental Materials.

Perez J, Rodriguez-Rojas F, Borrero-Lopez O, Sanchez-Gonzalez E Materials (Basel). 2024; 17(9).

PMID: 38730767 PMC: 11084880. DOI: 10.3390/ma17091961.

Macroscopic dental measures in guinea pigs () fed natural and pelleted diets of different abrasiveness: implications for wear and compensatory growth in a hypselodont species.

Martin L, Codron D, Winkler D, Tutken T, Hatt J, Clauss M J R Soc Interface. 2023; 20(202):20230012.

PMID: 37254702 PMC: 10230326. DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0012.

Mechanical compensation in the evolution of the early hominin feeding apparatus.

Ledogar J, Senck S, Villmoare B, Smith A, Weber G, Richmond B Proc Biol Sci. 2022; 289(1976):20220711.

PMID: 35703052 PMC: 9198777. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0711.

Fundamental mechanics of tooth fracture and wear: implications for humans and other primates.

Borrero-Lopez O, Rodriguez-Rojas F, Constantino P, Lawn B Interface Focus. 2021; 11(5):20200070.

PMID: 34938431 PMC: 8361572. DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0070.

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