What are composites?

DISCLAIMER : I apologise for the quality of the photographs on this page. Composites are difficult to photograph, scan and then reduce for publishing on a web page - unfortunately, the quality of the images suffers badly. Well, actually the reality is I'm probably a lousy photographer and should let the pros handle my photographic work.

Composites, or plastic fillings, are widely used as aesthetic restorations - that is, they mimic natural tooth colour and consistency to make fillings as "invisible" as possible.

The word composite refers to the mixture of filler particles and a liquid resin. Commonly, the resin used in composites is a BIS-GMA (bis-gammamethylmetacrylate) but because unfilled resin is clear and soft, filler particles are added to alter the colour and wear characteristics of composites. Common filler particles are silica, aluminum, zinc, tin, copper and iron. These fillers vary from composite to composite and modifies the strenght, durability and colour of the composite used.

When is a composite indicated?

Composites are best used as restorations for trauma or disease in front teeth, where aesthetics matter the most. They can be placed and polished to the point where they are almost indistinguishable from the surrounding tooth. As such composites are mostly used as restorations in front teeth and/or premolars, as it is in this area that aesthetics counts the most. However, composites can also be used as short term crowns for teeth; composite crowns are not very long lasting.