Predictors of clinical wear of restorative dental composite materials

The mode-I plane-strain fracture toughness values of eight posterior restorative composite materials were determined using straight-sided chevron-notch short-rod specimens and a special loading module. These results, together with the values of the modulus of elasticity, modulus of resilience, and flexural strength of these materials (as given in a paper by a previous worker) were used in a detailed correlational exercise, with the values of the clinical wear of restorations made from these materials (as given in the aforementioned paper) being the dependent variable. It was found that clinical wear may best be predicted using values of all four aforementioned mechanical properties.