> Specialty Focus: Composites
Composites Newer products have led to decreased placement time, with no compromise to quality and esthetics.
When it comes to dental restorations, there’s a lot riding on the composite. It takes a high-quality composite to successfully address shrinkage, polishability and handling. Yet many dentists tend to stick with their current composite until they encounter its shortcomings.
“When I ask dentists what their biggest concerns are with regard to composites, they almost always mention shrinkage, polishability, radiopacity and handling,” says Lisa Eisensmith, M.A., Senior Marketing Manager, Direct Restoratives, Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc. Shrinkage can affect the marginal integrity of the restoration; polishability can attribute to secondary caries; and radiopacity can aid in a diagnosis using an X-ray.
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In Eisensmith’s experience, dentists base their purchasing decisions primarily on how well the composite handles, which can be a very subjective decision, she points out. “They also look at promotions and price, peer recommendations and product evaluations,” she says. “Composites are a tough category due to the number of products on the market. And dentists do not tend to look for a new material unless they are experiencing challenges with their current
Efficiency In Group Practice : ISSUE 3 • 2020
: By Laura Thill
material, or if there is a significant advancement in materials.” While the composition of today’s composites – filler particles and monomers – is much the same as that of early composites, the size of the filler particles has significantly decreased, which has led to improved tooth strength, fracture toughness, surface hardness and overall tooth integrity. “The introduction of the nanosized filler particles almost 15 years ago has led to improved physical properties of the material, as well as the polishability and gloss retention of the restorations,” says Eisensmith. “The introduction of the 4mm composites also became a game changer
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