Researchers produced an artificial tooth whose microstructure mimicked that of a real tooth. The outer layers, corresponding to enamel, were hard and structurally complex. The outer layers contained glass nanoparticles and aluminium oxide plates were aligned perpendicular to the surface. After the outer layers hardened, a second suspension was poured. It contained no glass, and the plates were aligned horizontally to the surface of the tooth.  These deeper layers were tougher, resembling dentine. The tooth was then cooked at 1,600 degrees to compact and harden the material — a process known as sintering. The last step involved filling remaining pores with a synthetic monomer used in dentistry, which polymerizes after treatment. Hardness and durability approximated that of both the enamel and dentine of a tooth.