What is the correct order of compressive strengths from lowest to highest?

To determine the correct order of compressive strengths from lowest to highest, it's important to understand the properties of dental materials involved.

Glass ionomer materials generally have lower compressive strength than other types of restoratives. Therefore, their placement at the beginning of the sequence makes sense. Resin modified glass ionomers, which are enhanced versions of traditional glass ionomer materials with added resin components, show improved compressive strength over standard glass ionomers. This places them next in line.

Compomers, which are composites that incorporate glass ionomer characteristics, also exhibit relatively low compressive strength, often falling in between glass ionomers and stronger materials like nanocomposites. Nanocomposites are amongst the strongest restorative materials available, exhibiting the highest compressive strength due to their advanced formulations and inclusion of nanoparticles that enhance their mechanical properties.

This arrangement logically follows the increasing trend of compressive strength among these materials, with glass ionomer being the weakest, followed by resin modified glass ionomer, then compomer, finishing with nanocomposite as the strongest. Understanding the properties and applications of each material is crucial for selecting appropriate restorative options in dentistry, particularly when considering their mechanical strength under occlusal forces.