Correlation of fracture resistance of molar teeth with weight

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine a standardizing model for fracture resistance test methods in which molar teeth are used. Materials and Methods: Fifty freshly extracted human mandibular molar teeth were selected. Each tooth was numbered and data were obtained by measuring the mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) dimensions, length, and weight. Tests for fracture strength were performed using a universal testing machine, and for each sample, the force at the time of fracture was recorded in Newton. The correlations of the MD and BL dimensions, lengths, and weights of the teeth to the fracture strength values were evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Significant correlations were not observed between the fracture strength values and MD dimensions (r = 0.055, P > 0.05), BL dimensions (r = 0.074, P > 0.05), and lengths of the teeth (r = 0.017, P > 0.05); however, they were observed with the weights of the teeth (r = 0.312, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The fracture resistance of molar teeth increases as their weights increases. These weights should be standardized during fracture resistance studies when distributing sample molar teeth into the study groups.