Fracture resistance of teeth with Class 2 silver amalgam, posterior composite, and glass cermet restorations

This article reports the fracture resistance of maxillary premolars in which ideal class 2 mesio-occlusal or disto-occlusal cavities were prepared and restored with silver amalgam, posterior composite, and glass cermet. Sound teeth and teeth with prepared but unrestored cavities were also studied for comparison. Dentin-bonded posterior composite resin produced the best tooth fracture resistance, followed by glass cermet, intact teeth, silver amalgam, and unrestored-prepared teeth, in that order.