title: Fracture toughness and surface cracks--the key to understanding ceramic brackets.
abstract: The mechanical properties of ceramic brackets, particularly fracture toughness, are so different from those of metal brackets that their selection and handling requires a completely different set of criteria and techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Loma Linda University, California.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics; D008422:Materials Testing; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength