COMPOSITES

Composites composition

Durable, esthetic, predictable restorative

material consisting of 4 structural
components:
Polymer matrix
Filler particles
Coupling agent
Initiator
Matrix

Continuous phase with added other

ingredients
Based on:
bis-GMA resin (bisphenol-A-glycidyl methacrylate)
UDMA (urethane dimethacrylate)
TEG-DMA (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate)
Bis-EMA (bisphenol-A-polyethylene glycol diether
dimethacrylate)
Matrix - monomers
Filler particles

Usually a type of glass (barium or borosilicate)

Improves translucency
Reduces the coefficient of thermal expansion
Reduces polymerization shrinkage
Makes the material harder, denser, more resistant
to water
The greater the percentage of filler the better
physical properties
Filler loading has an upper limit (after it material
is too viscous for clinical use)
Coupling agent

Filler particles are coated with a coupling

agent to promote adhesion to the matrix
Without coupling agent the strength of
cohesive mass is reduced and the filler
particles tend to be lost from the surface
Initiator

Activates the polymerization reaction of resin

composite
Camphoroquinone the most common
photoinitiator
Activation may be initiated
by chemical reaction of mixed components
through exposure to light of the proper
wavelength
Usually polymerization is initiated by exposure to
visible light in the range of 460-480 nm light)
Types of composites according to the way of
polymerization:

Autocured
Light-cured
Types of composites
according to the filler particles size:

macrofilled (1-50 m)
microfilled (0,04 m)
can be polished to the highest luster and smoothest surface of all
resin composites (recommended for class 5 and vaneers)
are not as strong as other classes of material (not recommended
for class 4)
tend to absorb more water than other classes which results in
decrease in long term colour stability
hybrid (combination of submicron 0,04m particles and particles
up to 4m)
materials of choice for class 3 and class 4 restorations
the high filler content improves hybrids` resistance to internal
discoloration
microhybrid (the average particle size is less than 1m)
Types of composites
according to the filler particles size:
Types of composites
according to the filler particles size:
Types of composites according to their viscosity:

Conventional
Packable (condensable)
Flowable
Advantages of resin composite
as a posterior restorative material

Esthetics
Many shades, various opacities, tints for the purpose of matching shade
and translucency/opacity of enamel and dentin

Conservation of tooth structure

removal of tooth structure limited to carious lesion
narrower outline form
rounded internal line angles
no extention for prevention (occlusal fissures are included in the
preparation only if there is carious lesion)

Adhesion to tooth structure

Bond between composite and tooth structure achieved with bonding
systems offers the potential to seal the margins of the restoration
Advantages of resin composite
as a posterior restorative material

Low thermal conductivity

Composites do not transmit temperature changes

Elimination of galvanic currents

Composite does not contain metal will not conduct galvanic current

Radiopacity
It is necessary for evaluating the contours and marginal adaptation of the
restoration and to distinguish among the restoration, caries lesion and
sound tooth structure
Most modern composites have a radiopacity in excess of that of enamel

Alternative to amalgam
Composites still continue to gain popularity (amalgam has an unesthetic
appearance, contains mercury and is a hazardeous waste requiring
expensive systems to remove mercury from wastewater)
Disadvantages of resin composite
as a posterior restorative material

Polymerization shrinkage (volumetric 2,6% to 7,1%)

occurs toward the walls of cavity preparations to which it is bonded most
strongly
may cause gap formation between the composite and walls of the
preparation with the weakest bond (usually dentin or cementum)
to decrease its adverse effect incremental placement of composite
technique
most problems of these materials are related directly or indirectly to
shrinkage
microleakage,
sensitivity,
staining at the margins of the restoration
recurrent caries

Secondary caries lesion

Marginal gap formed at the gingival margin as a result of polymerization
shrinkage allows the ingress of cariogenic bacteria
Disadvantages of resin composite
as a posterior restorative material

Postoperative sensitivity
Is related to polymerization shrinkage the bacteria may enter the dentinal tubules
via a gap and cause pulpal inflammation and tooth sensitivity
May be reduced by careful adherence to the guidelines for case selection and
restoration placement including the rebonding procedure

Decreased wear resistance

Results from the combination of chemical damage to the surface of the material and
mechanical breakdown
The more posterior a tooth, the greater the masticatory forces and the more rapid the
wear of the restoration

Water sorption
Water is absorbed into the resin component = water content is increased when resin
content is increased
When matrix is swollen because of water sorption, the filler particle bond to resin is
weaken
Disadvantages of resin composite
as a posterior restorative material

Variable degree of conversion

VLC composites achieve higher degree of conversion than autocured

materials.
Lighter shades cure more easily and in less time than darker shades.
Composites with larger filler particles tend to transmit light throughout the
material more effectively than those with smaller filler particles.
The more longer the composite is subjected to the curing light the more
effective the cure (the thickness of each increment should be max.2mm)
The degree of conversion is inversely related to the distance of the light tip
from the resin composite tip distance more than 6 mm from the surface
of the increment can significantly decrease composite cure
Disadvantages of resin composite
as a posterior restorative material

Inconsistent dentin adhesion (marginal microleakage)

Dentin adhesive systems still do not achieve bond strengths to dentin
and cementum that may prevent gap formation,
This sometimes results in:
Open margins
Sensitivity
Interfacial staining
Bacterial invasion

Technique sensitivity
Application technique significantly affect adhesive bond strength
Meticulous operative procedures demanded for placing composites
required increased chair time much more than do comparable
amalgam restoration
Disadvantages of resin composite
Indications for use resin composites
as a posterior restorative material

No allergy or sensitivity to resin-based material

Acceptable oral hygiene (secondary caries a significant cause of
composite failure)
Centric occlusal stops should be on tooth structure
The patient should not exhibit excessive wear from clenching
or grinding
The tooth should allow for rubber dam isolation (without it
a marginal leakage 4-6 weeks after placement)
The faciolingual width of the cavity preparation should be restricted
to no more than 1/3 of the intercuspal distance to reduce occlusal
forces and wear
All cavosurface margins should be on enamel
the bond of adhesives to dentin degrades with time
placing an external cavosurface margin on dentin
(e.g.in class 2) increases risk for recurrent caries
Resin composite placement
(incremental technique)

Resin composite should be placed in successive, laminated

increments to ensure proper curing and prevent excessive
polymerization shrinkage
Incremental curing:
Decreases effects of polymerization shrinkage
Enhances marginal adaptation
Decreases gap formation
Reduces marginal leakage
Decreases cuspal deformation
Makes the cusps more resistant to subsequent fracture
Decreases postoperative sensitivity
Proper handling of the bonding system and composite at the
gingival margin is critical because microleakage occurs
usually in that area
Resin composite placement
(incremental technique) con`t

First increment no thicker

than 1 mm is placed against
the gingival wall and cured

Composite is than layered in

oblique increments of
max.2mm thickness

Oblique increment should not

contact both facial and lingual
cavity walls to minimize cuspal
deformation and
polymerization stress
Resin composite placement
(incremental technique) con`t

If a clear matrix and

light-reflecting wedge are
used the initial curing
should be directed
through the flat end of
the wedge
If a metal matrix
surrounds the tooth:
all increments must be
cured from the occlusal
aspect
after removing the metal
matrix all proximal areas
should be additionally
cured with the light
Composite placement stages
Composite placement stages
Composite placement stages
Wedge and matrix adjustment
in class 2 cavities

Metal band with wood wedge

Wedge and matrix adjustment

Clear matrix and light-reflecting wedge

Class 2 composite preparation
Class 2 composite preparation con`t
Class 2 composite restoration
Class 2 composite restoration con`t
Thank you for attention!