The anisotropy and gradient of the elastic modulus and the hardness of teeth were investigated by means of instrumented indentation method. Such properties are attributed to the unique microstructures of teeth based on scanning electron microscopic analysis. By comparing the relationship between the ratio of hardness to the reduced elastic modulus and the ratio of elastic unloading work to the total work of teeth in course of indentation to those of other materials, we found that the material behaviors of teeth display metal-like characteristics rather than ceramics as considered traditionally. These material behaviors and relevant functions are discussed briefly.tooth, mechanical properties, instrumented indentation, gradient, anisotropic, metal-likeThe most important and impressive function of teeth is life-long mastication [1,2] . This implies that the structural and mechanical properties of the tooth materials can sustain repetitive occlusal loading for tens years. Teeth are highly mineralized tissues with micro-and nanostructural features and the arrangement of these features can significantly affect the mechanical properties [1] . Therefore, to understand the superior microstructures and mechanical properties of teeth are important not only in clinical practice but also in physical and materials sciences.Recently, a lot of mechanical tests on teeth were performed with instrumented indentation or nanoindentation method. Cuy et al. made a nanoindentation mapping of the mechanical properties of human molar tooth enamel and presented that the material behaviors of enamel were not homogeneous [2] . Marshall et al. found that mechanical properties through the normal dentin remained relatively constant and the transition between enamel and dentin was smooth [3,4] . At even smaller scales, the hardness and Young's modulus of single apatite crystal rods in enamel were measured with nanoindentation [5] . More recently, Nizam and Lim indicated that although nanoindentation on teeth is a relatively new area of research, it provides an excellent way to probe and relate the structures and mechanical properties of teeth at the submicron and nanometer scales that were previously not possible but can now greatly benefit dental research. For example, tooth enamel is made up of the hydroxylapatite crystal rods and their orientations will affect the nano-mechanical properties obtained. Thus, anisotropy of teeth remains an interesting area of research [1] . In the present study, by means of nanoindentation method, we examine the elastic modulus, the hardness