Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1166-1172, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Oscillatory wear tests of dental composites
R. M. Pilliar, D. C. Smith and B. Maric
The wear behavior of 12 commercial restorative composites (conventional and
microfilled) and an unfilled restorative material was evaluated using an in
vitro wear test referred to as an oscillatory wear test. The effect of
varying test conditions was evaluated in a series of preliminary
experiments in order to define test conditions for material evaluation. The
materials were tested after being aged in water at 37 degrees C for periods
of from seven days to one year. The results indicated consistently lower
wear rates for the microfilled materials as compared with those of the
conventional composites. Aging did not result in significant differences in
wear rates measured by this method. Scanning electron micrography of worn
surfaces suggested a possible effect of filler particle shape and bonding
to the matrix to explain this difference. Although the relevance of the
results to clinical behavior is not yet known, the study indicated the
importance of material variables on wear.
