Review of dental tribology: Current status and challenges

The demand for high performance and customizable oral care products requires addressing technical challenges in dentistry, including tribology. The existing literature on dental tribology is scattered and existing clinical and laboratory testing methods for evaluation of tooth damage and wear are conflicting. Thus, a clear scientific understanding of tooth wear is absent and render it difficult to develop effective mitigation strategies. This work provides a review of tribological aspects of human teeth, including dental materials, friction, wear, lubrication of human dental tissues, restorative materials, and dental tissue properties. It attempts to provide a holistic state-of-the-art understanding of oral lubrication mechanisms, from a tribological perspective, and an understanding of the effects of daily hygiene practices on dental care.