As a direct consequence of their application domain –
the oral cavity – dental materials are subjected to the corosive
action of saliva, being surrounded by microorganisms,
fluids and alimentary rests, which modify their surface
characteristics. Concerns on the quality of the dental materials
explain the numeorus interdisciplinary studies, characterized
by a close relation among various scientific
domains (physics, chemistry, biology, science of biomaterials),
techniques also applied in clinical stomatology. Analysis
of the saliva–dental materials interface made use of
ceramic surfaces, composites and artificial saliva, permitting
to determine the main surface parameters of the materials
of prosthetic restoration, calculated with some
physical models, starting from measurements of the contact
angle: surface energy, its polar and dispersive components,
surface rugosity, adhesion mechanic work. All
composites showed low values of the adhesion mechanic
work, the conclusion being that they are much more hydrophobic
than the ceramic materials. Such a property is especially
important from an aesthetic perspective, as the
hydrophobic materials have a better colour stability in
time