Resins For Our Teeth

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, particularly with restorations and aesthetic improving procedures, composite resin has become one of the few trusted restorative materials typically used by professional dentists to restore the structure and aesthetics of teeth. Dental bridges, though considered as one of the oldest forms of restorations, may also be made with composite resins. Another popular restoration procedure that use composite resins are veneers. Though veneers became popular with porcelain as its main material, veneers became cheaper with the use of composite resins. So what are composite resins?

Dental Composite Resins

Dental composite resins are types of synthetic resins which are used in dentistry as restorative material or adhesives. Synthetic resins evolved as restorative materials since they were insoluble, aesthetic, insensitive to dehydration, and inexpensive. Also, unlike other restorative materials such as amalgam or porcelain, according to the cosmetic dentist hollywood, composite resins are far easier to manipulate as well. Dimethacrylates are also commonly added to achieve certain physical properties such as flowability. Further tailoring of physical properties is achieved by formulating unique concentrations of each constituent.

Advantages

One main advantage of composite resin is its aesthetically pleasing feature unlike amalgam. According to the cosmetic dentist hollywood, composites can be made in a wide range of tooth colours allowing near invisible restoration of teeth. The discovery of acid etching of teeth to allow a micromechanical bond to the tooth allows good adhesion of the restoration to the tooth. This means that unlike silver filling there is no need for the dentist to create retentive features destroying healthy tooth.

Disadvantage

The downside to composite when compared to amalgam is a shorter lifespan of the filling, and the high likelihood of requiring root canal therapy if the failure of the filling is not caught quickly. Amalgam fillings may crack a portion of the tooth off, but otherwise tend to fail at a much slower rate.

Direct and Indirect composites

Another popular feature of composite resins is that it can be applied directly and indirectly. Direct dental composites are placed by the dentist in a clinical setting and cured directly on the teeth. Direct dental composites can be used for a variety of purposes. Notable use of direct composite resins are for:

* Filling gaps between teeth using a shell-like veneer or
* Minor reshaping of teeth
* Partial crowns on single teeth

In contrast with direct composites, indirect composite is cured outside the mouth, in a processing unit that is capable of delivering higher intensities and levels of energy than handheld lights can. According to the cosmetic dentist hollywood, indirect composites can have higher filler levels, and are cured for longer times. As a result, they have higher levels and depths of cure than direct composites. Indirect dental composites can be used for:

* Filling cavities in teeth, as fillings, inlays and/or onlays

* Filling gaps between teeth using a shell-like veneer or

* Reshaping of teeth

* Full or partial crowns on single teeth

* And even bridges spanning 2-3 teeth

Anne Fields, currently working as an assistant professor, has been presently active in the dental organizations over the United States. She has attained credibility and high respect for her vast experience as being one of the top 25 speakers these days. She also writes articles about proper dental hygene in her free time.