Wear and flexural strength comparisons of alumina/feldspar resin infiltrated dental composites.

INTRODUCTION Incorporating a feldspar chemical bond between alumina filler particles is expected to increase the wear-resistant and flexural strength properties. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES An investigation was carried out to evaluate the influence of the feldspar chemical bonding between alumina filler particles on wear and flexural strength of experimental alumina/feldspar dental composites. It was hypothesized that wear resistance and flexural strength would be significantly increased with increased feldspar mass. METHODS Alumina was chemically sintered and bonded with 30% and 60% feldspar mass, silanized and infiltrated with UDMA resin to prepare the dental restorative composite material. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Higher wear-resistant characteristics resulted with increased feldspar mass of up to 60% (p < 0.05). Higher flexural strength characteristics resulted as the feldspar mass was increased up to 60% (p > 0.05). Feldspar chemical bonding between the alumina particles may improve on the wear-resistance and flexural strength of alumina/feldspar composites.