subject: Information About Dental Materials [print this page] A process of advanced chemical reactions involves setting up a reaction for direct restorative materials in dental restorative procedures. Dental restorative materials are specially fabricated materials, which are developed for use as dental restorations (fillings), typically used for restoring tooth structure loss. Most of the times, such damages or partial or complete tooth loss is a result of but not limited to dental caries (dental cavities). Dentists face many challenges for finding a substitute with physical properties as the ideal dental restorative material. Dental material for restoration is designed to be more biologically compatible with the structure and environment existing within the human mouth.
Heat and byproducts generated should not damage the surrounding teeth or patient, since the reaction should take place while in contact with the faulty tooth during restoration. This, finally, causes limitations to the strength of the materials, since harder materials require higher amount of energy to be manipulated as required. The goal of dental materials research and development is for developing the ideal dental restorative material. Such dental restorative material would then be identical to the natural tooth structure, in adherence, appearance and strength too. The properties of an ideal filling material can be iclassified into four categories: aesthetics, application, biocompatibility, and physical properties.
The physical properties dictate low thermal conductivity and expansion, resistance to different categories of forces and physical wear like attrition and abrasion and lastly, but not the least, resistance to chemical erosion over time. Moreover, there must also be good bonding strength with the tooth. Everyday masticatory forces and conditions have to be withstood without incurring fatiguing on the material. The term Biocompatibility means how well the material coexists with the biological equilibrium of the tooth and body systems. As fillings are in close contact with mucosa, tooth, and pulp, biocompatibility is the primary concern when developing one or implementing within the innards of a patients mouth. Common issues with few dental materials are chemical leakage from the material, pulpal irritation and less commonly allergy. Few byproducts of the chemical reactions expected during different stages of material hardening must also be considered. Dentists see that the aesthetics of filling materials ideally do match the surrounding tooth structure in shade, translucency, and texture. Dentists essentially are treating various problems of all types of patients. Thus, they also ascertain and need to be sure that the material so used is the best quality dental material.
From quite a few dental materials used in orthodontics, i.e. branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth; let us look at some of them:
Amalgam, a metallic filling material, is composed from a mixture of mercury (usually between 43% and 54%) and powdered alloy, which is made largely made of silver, tin, zinc and copper. It is more commonly known as the Amalgam Alloy. Amalgam does not adhere to tooth structure without the aid of cements or techniques, which lock in the filling, using the principles of a dovetail joint. Amalgam is still the preferred choice due to its cost effectiveness, superior strength and longevity. Composite resin fillings (also termed white fillings) are a mixture of powdered glass and plastic resin. These resemble closely to the appearance of a natural tooth. Composite resin fillings are cosmetically superior to amalgam fillings.
