Abstract
In this study, optical and mechanical properties were investigated with 4 kinds of commercial dental enamels. As a result of EDS analysis $SiO_2,\;Na_{2}O,\;Al_{2}O_3\;and\;K_{2}O$ were the main components of commercial dental enamels. In case of H specimen, content of $SiO_2\;and\;K_2O$ were more than that of another specimens. Starting powder and fired specimens were glass ceramics which were consist of amorphous phase and leucite (crystalline) phase. Crystallization did not occurred during firing process, since the XRD peak intensity was similar between starting powder and fired specimens. As a result of differential thermal analysis, $T_g$ and crystalline temperature was varied with composition in the range of $548\sim576^{\circ}C$ and $735\sim780^{\circ}C$ respectively. 0.5mm thickness dental enamel specimens showed sufficient translucent properties. However, transmittance and reflectance were lower than 5% result from scattering due to the refractive index difference between glass and crystalline phase. 3 point bending strength was in the range of 73.9$\sim$101.8MPa which was similar or slightly higher than enamel of natural teeth and Vickers hardness was higher than enamel of natural teeth more than 100.