The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of natural herb material Galla Chinensis extraction (GCE) on the wear resistance of dentine in vitro. Forty sound bovine dentine blocks were prepared and randomly divided into two groups. The samples were first treated with 4000 ppm aqueous solution of Galla chinensis and distilled deionized water (DDW) was used as a control. Then the samples were subjected to 5,000 cycles of attrition bathed under artificial saliva with 150 N loads. Wear measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) analysis were utilized to evaluate the effects of GCE on the wear resistance. The depth of the wear scar of DDW-treated surface (mean = 32.5 μm, SD = 11.8 μm) was significantly greater than that of GCE-treated surface (mean = 26.4 μm, SD = 13.9 μm) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the SEM images showed severe wear on the DDW specimens and less wear on the GCE-treated samples. Finally, from EDX data, GEC group had higher percentage of Ca and P than the control. In conclusion, our study suggested that Galla chinensis could enhance wear resistance of dentine.
