Abstract: Dentin has a hierarchical structure and is composed of numerous tubules whose diameters and densities vary with the distances to the dentin-enamel junction. The unique structure determines the mechanical performance of dentin. In this study, a multiscale model, which is based on the combination of the virtual multidimensional internal bond (VMIB) theory and the Monte Carlo method, is used to simulate the fracture behavior of human dentin. Numerical simulations reveal that human dentin exhibits a graded resistance curve (R-curve). Among the three regions of dentin, superficial dentin shows the strongest resistance to crack propagation, and deep dentin has the weakest resistance. In addition, the predictions of fracture toughness of middle dentin agree well with the experimentally reported values, suggesting that the proposed model can be used to characterize the fracture behavior of human dentin comprehensively and properly.

Key words: dentin, virtual multidimensional internal bond (VMIB), Monte Carlo simulation, resistance curve (R-curve), crack growth, diaphragm coupling, bending, stress, deformation