The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the location and orientation of dentinal tubules in the tooth on tensile strengths of the dentin. Dumbbell-shaped specimens of 12 groups from various locations and dentinal tubule orientations were prepared. The tensile test was performed in distilled water at a temperature of 37 degrees C. The tensile strengths of the parallel to the orientation were significantly greater than those of the perpendicular to the orientation; the tensile strengths of the radicular dentin were significantly greater than those of the coronal dentin. Nevertheless, in the radicular dentin, the tensile strengths of the perpendicular to dentinal tubules differ with respect to tensile forces. These results suggest that tensile strength of the dentin varies according to the location and orientation of dentinal tubules in the tooth.