Mechanics of Contact and Lubrication, MTM G230 Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Northeastern University Spring 2006 Wear of Dental Restorative Materials

Gradual wear of opposing teeth is a normal phenomenon in human dentition. To ensure a better quality of life through better dental health, there is a need for quality dental restorative materials to repair or replace natural teeth. Several aspects are looked at when designing a proper dental implant. Aesthetics, durability, and integration with the supporting teeth and soft tissues are some key design issues. Several types of materials are available in current dentistry for teeth restoration and replacement, with new materials being introduced every year. The understanding of the wear mechanisms of these new types of dental restorative materials alone or in combinations with either enamel or another dental restorative material becomes important. In this report, work done in the field of analyzing the wear of dental material in the past and present