Effects of occlusal and brushing forces on wear of composite resins.

Effects of occlusal and brushing forces on the wear of composite resins were investigated using three different wear tests: simulated occlusal wear test, toothbrush wear test, and combined wear test which carried out toothbrush wear test and occlusal wear test alternately. Test specimens were prepared from four commercial composite resins. Worn volume and maximum worn depth were measured under different occlusal forces (40 N and 80 N) and brushing forces (1.5 N and 3 N) in the three wear tests. Worn surfaces were observed using a SEM. In all the three wear tests, both higher occlusal and brushing forces resulted in significantly greater worn volume and higher maximum worn depth. The effects of occlusal force on worn volume and maximum worn depth varied with different composites, indicating that the four tested composites showed different wear behaviors under different occlusal forces and brushing forces. It was suggested that their different wear behaviors most probably stemmed from the differences in their filler systems.