Abstract
The effects of aging on tensile strength of bovine dentin were examined.Teeth of cows between aged 1.5 and 6 years old were classified into 4 groups according to dental age.The tensile test was performed using dumbbell-shaped dentin specimens prepared from these teeth and fracture surfaces were observed using SEM. The gradients obtained from the stress-deformation curve were not significantly different with the group.The tensile strength decreased slightly with aging, but not significantly. In Weibull analysis, the scale parameter remained constant but the Weibull moduli, (11.4, 10.2, 9.6, 6.3), decreased with aging. Fractographic analysis revealed no remarked difference among fracture surfaces with the group, except increasing plugged dentinal tubules with aging.
