COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS
Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. They are sometimes referred to as resins.After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this tooth colored material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is hardened intense visible light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to match the tooth. The final restoration is virtually invisible.
Advantages:
Composite fillings are more than just attractive. They are environmentally non-toxic because they use no mercury. They are stronger because they bond directly to the surface of the tooth. They provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth, and this may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam. Composites can also be "bonded" or adhesively held in a cavity, often allowing the dentist to make a more conservative repair to the tooth.
Disadvantages:
The initial investment in a composite filling is higher than that for an amalgam filling. This is due to the fact that the composite material is more expensive and the restoration is more difficult and time consuming to place. Composite fillings require a cavity that can be kept clean and dry during filling and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time.
Alternatives:
Inlays/onlays are sometimes good alternatives to composite fillings, offering excellent long term durability. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are the only alternative. |
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