Teeth are put under a lot of pressure on a daily basis. Everything from chewing foods to grinding your teeth when you are stressed or sleeping creates a lot of force and pressure that is applied directly to your teeth. Considering how much pressure your teeth are put under, it is surprising they don’t crack and break that is because of their tensile strength.
Tensile strength is a very popular concept in prosthodontics. While it is a topic that is typically reserved for a clinical setting, many patients find it an interesting concept to learn about, especially if they are about to undergo prosthodontic treatments.
What is Tensile Strength?
Tensile strength is a measurement regarding how much force a certain type of material can withstand before failing. When used in regards to teeth, it describes the amount of pressure applied to teeth before it sustains some type of injury. The injury could be anything from a chip or crack, to full breakage that results in the tooth completely falling apart.
Why is Tensile Strength Important with Prosthodontic Treatments?
Working with prosthodontic treatments tensile strength is extremely important. It is important because the device used to replace the natural tooth must be designed to withstand the amount of pressure that teeth are put under on a daily basis.
Patients want to know that when they have a crown, implant, or partial bridge placed in their mouth, it will be able to hold up under the intense wear and tear that comes with the pressure teeth are put under. After all, no one wants to undergo dental treatment only to have it fall apart a few days later because it is made with material that is too brittle or weak to withstand such pressure.
Are Prosthodontic Treatments Just as Strong as Natural Teeth?
A common concern patients have regarding prosthodontic treatments is their strength. They often wonder if these types of dental treatments are just as strong as natural teeth. This is an issue that was discussed recently in the Journal of Prosthodontic Research.
Research, which was published in the Journal of Prosthodontic Research, shows that while prosthodontic treatments can withstand a large amount of force, it is not as strong or sturdy as natural teeth. There is a small section of prosthodontic treatments that are weak and can break under pressure, especially if the pressure is applied over a prolong period of time.
The weakest point of prosthodontic treatments usually failed when it was subjected to a force of 570N. This type of force is extremely heavy and not something that you would come into contact with on a day-by-day basis. However, it does indicate there is a weakness in prosthodontic treatment that is not present in natural teeth.
Taking into account this research, it would suggest that natural teeth are your best option. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to keep their natural teeth. Teeth wear down over time and tend to break. When this happens, prosthodontic treatment is needed. Luckily, there are treatment options that are almost as strong as natural teeth and will be able to withstand most pressure you put on them.
If you wish to learn more about how strong prosthodontic treatments can be, schedule an appointment with your local prosthodontist. He or she will be willing to discuss this with you.
