THE EFFECT OF RESTORATIVE MATERIALS ON THE WEAR OF HUMAN ENAMEL

The wear of human dental enamel against amalgam, Concise composite, SR -Isosit Inlay/Onlay composite, Vitadur-N glazed porcelain, unglazed IP S Empress ceramic, and enamel (control) was investigated by use of a m odified stress cycling machine. Testing was carried out in water and i n citric acid (pH 4) and the enamel-material couples were subjected to 25,000 cycles of wear with a maximum load of 40 N. Tooth profile redu ction was measured at baseline and at 5000 cycle intervals with a comp uter image analysis program. The depth of the wear scars on material s pecimens was analyzed with a profilometer. All materials produced incr eased enamel wear in acid. Vitadur-N glazed porcelain was found to be the most destructive to human dental enamel, and this was closely foll owed by Empress and enamel.