Flexural Strength is a Critical Property of Dental Materials-An Overview
Pradeep Dathan, K Chandrasekharan Nair, Aswathy S Kumar, Lekshmy AR
Abstract
Numerous dental materials are used in dentistry and in selecting the appropriate one, their mechanical properties are to be evaluated.Mechanical properties are governed by the laws of mechanics which would give us information on what happens when the material is subjected to forces.Restorative materials are expected to withstand forces during the fabrication process and during masticatory function.Materials can be described qualitatively like hard or soft, tough or fragile, flexible or stiff.But these descriptions will not help us in comparing and selecting a suitable material.In dentistry, testing protocols are defined by different agencies like standard organisations and they have formulated specifications which would be updated from time to time.Strength testing is an important category in which the following properties are included: tensile strength, compressive strength, shear strength, yield strength fracture toughness, flexural strength and many more tests.Dentist is interested to know how the material selected for a restoration will behave in the course time.The restoration should be structurally durable without undergoing permanent deformation or fracture.Test for flexural strength has great predictive value.This overview briefly goes through the definition, numerous testing methods and flexure strength values of commonly used dental materials.