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Amalgam Creep — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateDental MaterialsAmalgam CreepNDEB AFK

Which of the following correctly describes 'creep' as a property of dental amalgam?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: DTime-dependent plastic deformation under sustained static loading below the proportional limit

Creep is the time-dependent, slow, continuous plastic deformation of a material under a constant static load that is below the material's proportional limit (elastic limit). In dental amalgam, high creep values are associated with marginal breakdown and increased corrosion because the amalgam at the margins gradually deforms outward under occlusal loading. High-copper amalgams have significantly lower creep values than conventional (low-copper) amalgams, contributing to their superior clinical performance.

Reference: Anusavice – Phillips' Science of Dental Materials, 13th ed., 2022