Elastic and fracture properties of dental direct filling materials.

Five dental direct filling materials were tested in tension and compression in order to define their stress-strain behaviour for both types of applied stress. In addition, fracture toughness was determined from three-point bending tests. Linear and non-linear stress-strain behaviour was observed, and the response was specific for each material and also to the type of applied stress. Fracture resistance was also found to be material specific, which was related to differences in composition.