Mutual wear evaluation of resin composites when opposing enamel and dentin

Mutual wear rates of resin composites and both superficial and deep layers of enamel and dentin were investigated by means of an in vitro wear test. Occlusal surfaces of extracted molars were ground flat to respective layers of enamel and dentin. Hemispherical-shaped styli (n = 8) made of microfilled and microhybrid composites were placed perpendicular to the finished tooth surface (600 grit) in the presence of tap water, and a two-body wear test (75 N load and 1.2 Hz) was performed for 100,000 cycles. The wear depths on both tooth and composite specimens were determined, and the data were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Boneferroni test (p < 0.05). The values of deep and superficial dentin specimens against Esthet-X (530.2 +/- 213.0 microm and 717.4 +/- 309.6 microm) were significantly greater than those against Epic-TMPT (34.1 +/- 17.6 microm and 29.3 +/- 10.8 microm). The values of Esthet-X against dentin were the smallest (2.4-2.6 microm), followed by those of the same material against enamel (5.5-6.1 microm), and those of Epic-TMPT against enamel (7.2-7.9 microm). It was concluded that the wear rates of dentin varied with the type of composite used while those of enamel showed the consistency.