In vitro quantitative assessment of generalized wear of dental composites

The purpose of this paper was to compare generalized wear resistance of eleven proprietary posterior dental composites and one amalgam using a recently developed in vitro wear testing apparatus. Upon completion of the in vitro wear testing process the wear area of occlusal surface was replicated and the depth of enamel exposed at the cavity margin was measured by a traveling microscope. Based upon the results of this study it was demonstrated that there were significant differences amongst materials included in this study. Also this wear test not only reproduced the microstructure of worn oclusal surface, but also predicted wear rates which correlated somewhat well with clinical performances.