Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Resin-Based Materials Applied in Dental Restorations

Abstract

Resin-based materials have been prevalent for dental restorations over the past few decades and have been widely used for a variety of direct and indirect procedures. Typically, resin-based dental materials are required to be flowable or moldable before setting and can provide adequate mechanical strength after setting. The setting method may include, but is not limited to, light-curing, self-curing or heating. In this review, based on different indications of resin-based dental materials (e.g., dental filling composite, dental bonding agent, resin luting cement), their rheological and mechanical properties were reviewed. Viscous and flexible properties were focused on for materials before setting, while elastic properties and mechanical strength were focused on for materials after setting. At the same time, the factors that may affect their rheological and mechanical properties were discussed. It is anticipated that the insightful information and prospections of this study will be useful to the future development and fabrication of resin-based dental restorative materials.

Keywords: dental bonding agent; dental resin composite; dental restorative materials; resin luting cement; rheology.

Figure 1

Resin-based materials applied in direct and indirect restorations.

Figure 2

Schemes of (a) three-point bending test; (b) four-point bending test. Schemes were adapted from reference [47].Reproduced with permission from Chitchumnong, P.; Brooks, S.C.; Stafford, G.D.; Dental Materials; published by Elsevier, 1989.