Dental Composites: The Uses Of Dental Composites

Dental composites, also known as "white fillings", are a group of restorative materials composed of a mixture of powdered glass and plastic resin regularly used in modern dentistry to resemble the appearance of the natural tooth. Acrylic resin was first introduced to the dental profession in the mid 1950s. Since their introduction, acrylic based materials have continued to play a pivotal role in restorative and prosthetic dentistry. After the introduction of the bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate, or BIS-GMA, by Bowen in the early 1960s the potential application of resins has emerged. This composition and formulation possessed a higher molecular weight and therefore better mechanical properties and reduced polymerization shrinkage, the newer polymer offered potential for much greater applications that included anterior and posterior composite resin restorations, indirect inlays/onlays, pit and fissure sealants and more wear resistant denture teeth.

Dental composites are widely used for crown preparation and in-lays formation. These materials are similar to those used in direct fillings and are tooth-colored. Their strength and durability is not as high as porcelain or metal restorations and they are more

Cavity contamination results in failure to achieve adhesion between the filling and the tooth and subsequent leakage at this interface. Although composite resins have become stronger and more resistant to wear, it's not clear whether they last as long as amalgam fillings under the pressure of chewing. The composite may shrink when placed, producing gaps between the tooth and the filling. This can lead to more cavities in areas where the filling is not making good contact with your tooth. The shrinkage is reduced when your dentist places this type of filling in thin layers. The cost of the composite resins is less than gold filling but more than amalgam