[The wear on enamel, amalgam and their enamel antagonists in a computer-controlled mastication simulator]

In a long-term in-vitro test the wear of enamel fossae, amalgam restorations and their opposing enamel cusps in the occlusal contact area was evaluated, qualitatively and quantitatively. The wear of enamel cusps differed from the wear of enamel fossae. The amalgam restorations wore down more rapidly than enamel fossae, but they were less destructive against their opposing enamel cusps. The wear of all tested materials was not linear. The results will serve as reference data for future long-term in-vitro tests of posterior restorative materials.