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Published on: January 25, 2019
Flexibility of experimental alumina/feldspar and SR ADORO dental composites
1Department of Dental Services, Faculty of Health Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa. andrelr@dut.ac.za
Introduction:
Flexure of a dental composite can be detrimental to the success of a restoration. Flexibility considerations are thus important when comparing dental materials to optimize the success of resin restorations.
Aims And Objectives:
Flexibility of 5.6 x 18.0 x 2.0 mm3 experimental alumina/feldspar and SR ADORO dental composites specimens were compared. It was hypothesized that alumina/feldspar composites would be less flexible under a load than SR ADORO composites and that the flexibility would decrease significantly as the feldspar content was increased.
Methods:
Alumina was chemically sintered or bonded with 40%, 50% and 60% feldspar mass, silanized and infiltrated with urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) to prepare the alumina/feldspar dental restorative composite specimens. Three point bending tests were performed in the Instron 44 machine for flexural comparison to SR ADORO.
Results And Conclusions:
The alumina/feldspar specimens showed lower flexibility (mm displacement) than SR ADORO (p < 0.05). Accurate flexibility comparisons were performed with 5.6 x 18.0 x 2.0 mm3 specimens. Flexibility comparisons performed with 5.6 x 18.0 x 2.0 mm3 specimens indicated that experimental alumina/feldspar dental composites may provide added marginal seal benefit. However confirmation via in vivo function of alumina/feldspar dental composites is recommended.
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