Progressive Tooth Wear Against Resin-Based Restorative Composites

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Resin-based composites are widely used in dental restorations.
• Material properties can influence tooth wear and clinical outcomes.
• Understanding wear behavior is crucial for selecting appropriate restorative materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the tooth wear behavior of a bulk-fill restorative (BF) against a conventional resin composite (RC) and a resin nano ceramic (RN).
• To evaluate the wear resistance and microhardness of these restorative materials.
• To assess the impact of different materials on human tooth structure during simulated chewing.

Main Methods:

• Occlusal wear testing was performed on BF, RC, and RN specimens using a chewing simulator.
• Human premolar cusps served as antagonists against the tested materials.
• Wear volume was quantified using micro-CT and laser scanning, while wear patterns were examined with SEM.
• Knoop microhardness testing assessed material softening after ethanol immersion.

Main Results:

• Bulk-fill resin composites (BF) exhibited significantly less tooth wear compared to resin nano ceramics (RN) and conventional resin composites (RC).
• BF demonstrated superior wear resistance, with lower volume loss than both RC and RN.
• Material wear and volume loss increased with the number of testing cycles (up to 500,000 cycles).

Conclusions:

• Bulk-fill resin composites induce less tooth volume loss and possess greater wear resistance than conventional resin composites and resin nano ceramics.
• All tested materials showed mild tooth wear patterns and damage progression.
• Bulk-fill resin composites offer an efficient restorative technique with low wear susceptibility and reduced tooth wear potential.