Differential Wear of Teeth and Restorative Materials: Clinical Implications

Purpose: This study reviewed the wear of commonly used dental restorative materials and their effects on the opposing dentition. Materials and Methods: Key words were used with PubMed to retrieve pertinent references to publications on tooth and restoration wear. Results: The wear resistance of newer esthetic restorative materials has generally improved, and the damage caused by several materials to the opposing dentition has been reduced. However, the different structures and physical properties of tooth substance and restorative materials will eventually lead to varying degrees of differential wear. The extent and rate of wear are influenced by many intraoral factors. Conclusion: Selection of restorative materials must be based on knowledge of their wear behavior and the individual needs of each patient. The lowest wear rates for restorations and the opposing dentition occur with metal alloys, machined ceramics, and microfilled and microfine hybrid resin composites.