ABSTRACT
Testing this characteristics in vivo, is not always simple, so experimental tests in laboratory and Finite Elements analyses (FEA) can be used. FEA is a fast and a relatively low cost method used to investigate stress distribution and strain patterns of complex structures, such as dental restorations. FEA can be used for two different purposes: (1) to understand the failure behaviour of complex structures, or (2) to optimize the experiments through the mathematical simulation and selection of the best design to perform the test [5].
