Dental Health Magazine Dental Health Magazine Issue 8 | Page 52

52
Issue #8, December 2017
Composites are tooth-coloured fillings which can
be placed in almost any tooth surface for any kind
of restorative procedures. Composite materials
have come a long way since the invention of
it during the 1960’s. The search for an ideal
esthetic material for restoring teeth has resulted
in significant improvements in esthetic materials
and in the techniques for using these materials.
All general dental practitioners in Malaysia are
equiped to place a composite filling if requested.
The steps in placing a composite filling are as
follows, firstly the cavity if prepared and all
decayed materials are removed, the surface is
acid-etch and bonding is applied, followed by
the placement of the composite incrementally
and finally polymerization of the materials (which
involves the blue light you normally see in your
dentist’s office). Placement of the composite itself
is the most crucial step in which moisture control
is important to not contaminate the composite
material itself.
These premolars have been restored
using the sandwich technique. The
green background in the first picture
is a “rubber-dam” , basically a
rubber sheet used during composite
placement to avoid moisture
contamination.
There are various types of composites, including macrofill, microfill, hybrid
composites, nanofill composites, nanohybrid, flowables, glass ionomer cements
and packable types.The mix and match of these different kinds of materials
depends on which technique your dentist opts for, for example, the sandwich
technique utilizes a layer of glass ionomer cement followed by composite material
to mimic your natural tooth (the enamel and dentine). Composites are bonded
to your tooth with the help of adhesives. Adhesive materials that have strong
bonds to enamel and dentine further simplify restorative techniques. Placing
a composite is somewhat more technique sensitive compared to placing an
amalgam filling due to it’s moisture control requirements. Composite materials
also come in many custom shades to match your natural tooth colour to make
it a bit more aesthetically pleasing.