The Pros and Cons Of Composite Resin in Dental Restorations

Getting your teeth restored is a life-long dream for many people, and composite resin is considered one of the most reliable and popular materials used in treatment. Composite resin opens the door for many non-invasive treatments, and for those wishing to learn more about composite resin treatments, here’s what you should know about how composite resin works, how it’s used, and how it may benefit your oral health. 

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Composite Resin

Composite resin is a polymer material mixed with powdered glass and plastic to mimic the tooth’s natural appearance. This material is often used to make cosmetic improvements to your smile and help restore decaying, lost, or injured teeth. This material has several advantages and disadvantages, and below, we’ll describe them in detail:

Advantages:

  • Great Aesthetics: Composite resin is an excellent material for restoring teeth, as the material makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The material can be matched to the person’s tooth shade and used in various treatments, including crowns, veneers, orthodontic brackets, and even veneers. 
  • High Longevity: Composite resin is considered strong and durable. This is because the resin bonds to the tooth structure, mending with the enamel molecules and protecting it. Because of their durability, they can last for years when used in restorative treatment.
  • Repairable: Dentists can quickly repair the materials used without impacting the tooth’s structural integrity when restorations break or get damaged. Composite resin is often used in bonding and filling treatments and can be reapplied anytime. 
  • Conservative: For patients seeking conservative treatments, the composite resin is considered an excellent choice for its durability and ability to be used in conservative treatments such as root canals or fillings. 

Disadvantages: 

  • Microleakage: Composite resin can pose risks of microleakage, meaning that pockets of air and saliva can get into the material and reach the tooth, increasing the risk of infections. 
  • Shrinkage: The material can shrink over time, causing problems with maintaining stability along the tooth’s surface and can increase the risk of damage.
  • Longer Placement Time: Patients with difficulties in the dental chair can experience problems with their treatment sessions, as composite resins take longer to cure than other materials. 
  • Technique Sensitive: Most of all, the success of the treatment depends on the dentist’s techniques. Dentists unable to use composite resin properly can cause unwarranted problems with the patient’s treatment and cause it to fail. 

Deciding on composite resin for your treatment can be tricky. When visiting your dentist, they can explain the process in further detail about the materials they use and the techniques they work with for your dental care. 

Contact Your Dentist About Composite Resin Treatments!

If you’re wondering whether a composite resin filling might be a good choice, speak with your primary dentist for more information. By speaking with your primary dentist, they can help explain the various filling options available to you and help you decide which treatment is best suited for your oral health. Through speaking with them, you can take the steps needed to care for your teeth and give your smile the makeover you’ve always wanted. 

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