Compressive Creep
The time-dependent permanent deformation of a dental material under sustained compressive load, relevant to amalgam and temporary cement evaluation.
Full Definition
Compressive creep describes the gradual plastic deformation that occurs when a dental material is subjected to a constant compressive stress over time, beyond what would be predicted by its initial elastic response. It is a key property for evaluating amalgam restorations, as high creep values correlate with marginal deterioration and ditching. Creep is expressed as a percentage strain after a defined load and time period per ISO standards. Editors should distinguish this from the general term 'creep,' which encompasses all loading modes, and should not allow authors to use 'flow' and 'creep' interchangeably when referring to dental cements.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from 'flow' in the context of impression materials or cements. ISO test protocols for amalgam specify compressive creep precisely; ensure authors cite the correct standard.
In Context
- "Compressive creep values exceeding 2% are generally associated with clinically unacceptable marginal breakdown in amalgam restorations." — Dental materials textbook chapter
- "The table heading should read 'compressive creep (%)' rather than simply 'flow,' as the test method employed sustained axial loading." — Manuscript copyediting note