Validation of BioDent TDI as a New Clinical Diagnostic Method
Indentation is a mature technique that has been widely used in materials science to investigate the mechanical properties of metals and thin films. The indentation technique provides accurate modulus and hardness values of materials over many length scales and can target specific microstructures within heterogeneous materials. A more traditional engineering approach for mechanical properties is three point bend testing which provides an indication of the general fracture performance of the material. The breaking force and toughness results determined are based on the materials overall structure and composition. However, for both techniques, the testing specimen requires certain degree of process. This study evaluated a new indentation technique, which is able to penetrate biological tissues, apply compressive loads on the bone surface and record the resulting displacement, using wild type rats fed with a standard diet. In this study, both femurs from the same animal were tested followed by the three point bending to reach structural failure. We found a correlation between the two techniques and the properties of the bone in the animal model.