Dental Composites for an All-White Smile

The popularity of dental composite fillings shows no sign of slowing as patients continue to demand teeth-coloured restoratives to retain that all-white smile. Personal preference will always be the key factor behind selecting which dental composite brands to use in your practice, but there are many variables that should be considered to help you in finding your favourites. With more choice of dental composites available on the market than ever before, our guide aims to help you in your search to find the perfect materials to suit your requirements.

What is a Dental Composite?

Dental composites, or resin-based composites, are synthetic, hydrophobic materials that combine polymeric matrix with a dispersion of glass, mineral, or resin filler particles and/or short fibres. They are used to restore tooth structure lost through trauma, caries or other diseases. Composites can also be used as cements to cement crowns, bridges and other prosthetics. Composites can be classified as chemically activated (self-cure) resins and photochemically activated (light-cure) resins.

Distinguishing Between Dental Composites

Before jumping into which particulars you should look out for when browsing dental composites, below is a quick reminder of the key differentiators.

Classification of Dental Composites

  • Microfilled Composites: Microfilled composites contain very small particles of filler. This allows good polishability and fine aesthetics. They are not very strong or durable and are not recommended for the restoration of posterior teeth
  • Macrofilled Composites: Macrofilled composites contain large particles which makes the material very strong and durable. This composition does not lend itself well to finishing and polishing, leaving an unaesthetic finishing that is undesired for anterior teeth.
  • Hybrids (Universal) Composites: Hybrids contain a mixture of particle sizes that combine the strength of macrofilled composites with the aesthetics of microfilled composites, thus making it suitable for both anterior and posterior teeth.
  • Nanocomposites: Made up of particles less than 100nm in size, nanocomposites typically have nanosized particles which can be clustered to form larger filler. These clusters provide the appropriate strength and opacity, combined with excellent polish and polish retention. Nanocomposites are the composite type used in most of today’s restorations. This popularity is owed to being able to tick all the boxes when it comes to aesthetics and wear resistance, and be easily shaped in anterior teeth, yet also strong enough for the posteriors.
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Handling Properties of Dental Composites

Perhaps the most important consideration for most dentists when choosing a composite is how it handles. Being comfortable working with a material is crucial to the overall outcome of a restoration.

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Compressive Strength

Perhaps the most important mechanical property of a composite is its compressive strength. This is certainly the case with stress-bearing posterior restorations where the strength of the composite needs to be high enough to withstand the masticatory forces. Restoratives with lower compressive strength are more likely to fail, fracture and lead to loss of tooth structure. Nanocomposites have been proven to have the mechanical properties necessary to tolerate these masticatory forces, while offering the aesthetic properties lacking in macrofilled composites.

Other Important Factors to Consider:

Polishability

To get that much desired glossy and smooth finish to your restorations, you will want your dental composites to be ones that polish well. Nanocomposites offer the highest polishability followed by hybrids. As well as improved aesthetics, a highly polished composite will also prevent plaque retention and bio-film. There is no longer a need for separate polishing systems for different composites and using nanocomposites with excellent polishing retention makes the whole process quicker and more systematic.

Wear Resistance

With the amount of mechanical forces and chemical affects that occur in patients mouths, the wear resistance of a composite is central to long-term performance. Posterior restorations are for more likely to show noticeable wear, so it’s important to make sure the composite being used has a similar or lesser wear resistance than teeth. While some research has shown there to be little difference between conventional and nanofilled composites, some has reported superior resistance to wear for nanofilled composites.

Durability

Any high-quality composite intended for anterior and posterior restorations should be able to demonstrate how its fairs against other brands in terms of hardness, compression strength and shrinkage volume. Picking a durable dental composite that has the clinical evidence to show its durability, such as SDR Flow+, should be strongly considered and will make up for any potential outlay with less failed restorations down the line. Selecting the right LED curing light should not be underestimated in this process and is crucial for improved longevity of a restoration.

Translucency

The translucency of a composite is a vital part of delivering an aesthetic restoration that mimics the properties of natural tooth structures. Translucency varies across different composite brands and shades. The colour of the composite resins will have a significant effect on its translucency which is why it’s important to have accurate knowledge regarding the translucency and colour of different composite materials.