[Damage to composite restorations].

The expression of damage in dental composite restoratives varies widely, going from some local damage as in attrition facets, to generalized failure or collapes of a restoration. However, crack growth lies on the basis of both aforementioned phenomena. It is therefore of primary importance to gain insight in the way structurally differing materials respond to external stress. It is the aim of the present review to summarize some recent in vitro studies that deal with simulation of wear and fatigue phenomena in dental composite restorative materials.