To evaluate the suitability between human dentine and resin-composite′s compressive creep behavior under in vitro circumstances.

Twenty human dentine specimens were fabricated using molars free from fracture and irregularities in shape, and were then divided randomly into two groups, with ten specimens in each group. Twenty resin-composite specimens were prepared in a dental laboratory and divided randomly into two groups, with ten specimens in each group. Specimens were loaded for 7200 s under a constant compressive load of 300 and 50 N, respectively. After the data acquisition of compressive creep tests, the time-strain curves were drawn and the maximum creep strain was observed. Statistical analysis was performed using independent-samples t-test at a significance level of 0.05.

Under the same in vitro testing conditions, creep behaviour was observed in both human dentine and resin-composite, yet the trend of the strain-time curves was different. Under the constant load of 300 N, the maximum creep strain of human dentine was (2.953 ± 1.099) %, significantly higher than that of the resin-composite (1.370 ± 0.069) % (t= 4.54, P < 0.001) . Under the constant load of 50 N, the maximum creep strain of dentine was (1.490 ± 0.348) %, significantly higher than that of the resin-composite (0.483 ± 0.105) % (t= 8.76, P < 0.001) .

Under the same in vitro testing conditions, the compressive creep occurred in human dentine was significantly higher than that in resin-composite.