Dental composite

Dental composite resins (better referred to as "resin-based composites" or simply "filled resins") are <a href="/facts/Dental_cement/qccA6tg8">dental cements</a> made of <a href="/facts/Synthetic_resin/v9gh4HDh">synthetic resins</a>. Synthetic resins evolved as restorative materials since they were insoluble, of good tooth-like appearance, insensitive to dehydration, easy to manipulate and inexpensive. Composite resins are most commonly composed of <a href="/facts/Bis-GMA/BldK3gVE">Bis-GMA</a> and other dimethacrylate <a href="/facts/Monomer/Gw3CltMb">monomers</a> (TEGMA, UDMA, HDDMA), a filler material such as <a href="/facts/Silica/A3WILp6J">silica</a> and in most applications, a <a href="/facts/Photoinitiator/XSmq1CXC">photoinitiator</a>. <a href="/facts/Dimethylglyoxime/HAMrxNWn">Dimethylglyoxime</a> is also commonly added to achieve certain physical properties such as flow-ability. Further tailoring of physical properties is achieved by formulating unique concentrations of each constituent.
Many studies have compared the lesser longevity of resin-based composite restorations to the longevity of <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a>-<a href="/facts/Mercury_(element)/WlxfoHva">mercury</a> <a href="/facts/Amalgam_(dentistry)/1tJBCfwR">amalgam</a> restorations. Depending on the skill of the dentist, patient characteristics and the type and location of damage, composite restorations can have similar longevity to amalgam restorations. (See Longevity and clinical performance.) In comparison to amalgam, the appearance of resin-based composite restorations is far superior.
Resin-based composites are on the <a href="/facts/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Medicines/6kmu81Xm">World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines</a>.

Dental composite open-in-new

Dental composite