Compressive viscoelastic properties of human dentin: I. Stress-relaxation behavior.

Stress-relaxation measurements were performed on specimens of radicular human dentin. The relaxation modulus showed a linear dependence on the logarithm of time and the approximation to the logarithmic distribution function of relaxation times was used to predict the behavior of other viscoelastic properties. This experimental technique provides significant criteria for the design of polymeric restorative and prosthetic materials.