What is dental composite and who is it suitable for?

**Dental composite** is one of the popular and effective methods in cosmetic dentistry that helps you have a beautiful and natural smile. This material, with the ability to match color and shape, repairs damaged teeth and corrects their appearance defects. If you are looking for a way to improve the beauty of your teeth, dental composite can be an ideal option for you. In this article, we will examine the types of **composite**, its uses, advantages, disadvantages and important points in its care. Stay with us to learn more about this attractive method and make a smart decision for your smile. What is dental composite? What is composite? Dental composite is a restorative material that is widely used in dentistry to correct dental defects and smile beauty. This material consists of a combination of plastic resins and fine glass or ceramic particles, which gives it strength and beauty. With the advancement of technology, world-renowned brands have produced products with a wide color range, high strength, polishability, which can be easily combined with natural teeth and bring durability and beauty at the same time. On the other hand, the cost-effectiveness of the dental composite price along with the fast process and natural results has made this method have many fans. Of course, the success of this treatment largely depends on the expertise and skill of the dentist as well as the use of quality materials. Also, following the care points after the composite will play an important role in maintaining its beauty and durability. Application of dental composite - Correcting the smile design - Repairing tooth damage such as broken, cracked, chipped and decayed teeth Filling tooth cavities - Correcting tooth color, covering stains and changing its color in order to restore natural color and beauty - Closing interdental spaces - Tooth shaping - Improving the appearance of front teeth - Correcting the size and shape of teeth - Tooth wear repair - Correcting the shape of canine teeth The difference between composite veneer and porcelain Composite veneers and porcelain veneers are both used to improve the appearance of teeth, but they have significant differences. Composite veneer is the uncut composite that is made of resin material and placed directly on the teeth in the dental office. Then it is shaped and by shining a special light (light cure), it turns from a doughy state to a rigid state. This type of veneer can be modified and shaped during work, and its cost is lower than porcelain veneer. But it is less durable and more prone to scratches and discoloration. On the other hand, the structure of the porcelain veneer is made up of ceramic materials that are produced after molding the teeth in the laboratory and then glued on the teeth. This type of veneer looks more natural in terms of beauty and is more resistant to stains and scratches. But its cost is higher and its installation requires several treatment sessions. Therefore, the choice between composite veneer and porcelain is made based on the aesthetic needs, budget and dental conditions of the patient. To whom is dental composite suitable? People who have general oral and gum health and do not have gum infection, severely decayed and damaged teeth can use composite veneers. People with the following minor problems are good candidates for dental composites: - Filling small interdental spaces - Restoring and filling teeth with natural tooth-colored materials - Smoothing and homogenizing the teeth in terms of shape and size - Whitening the teeth, removing stains, changing their color and yellowness - Repairing wear, lip filling, cracking and partial tooth breakage For whom dental composite is not suitable? People who have any of the following characteristics should not use this technique: - Poor oral hygiene - Suffering from periodontal diseases or gum infection - Caries with severe tooth damage - Fracture with deep cracking of the tooth - Habit of teeth grinding - Weakness of tooth enamel - Jaw problems - Severe dental abnormalities such as large distance between teeth - Being sensitive to composite materials - Weakness of the immune system - Suffering from certain diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes - People undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy - Children and teenagers under 18 years old - Unrealistic expectations of the composite - Smoking and drinking alcohol Do not forget that severe jaw and dental abnormalities cannot be corrected with **composite** and the person must undergo orthodontic treatment first. However, if the teeth are crooked or slightly misaligned, the composite helps straighten the teeth to some extent. In any case, you should consult a dentist or orthodontic specialist to choose between composite or orthodontics. Benefits of dental composite - Affordable cost - Beautiful and natural appearance - Preservation of tooth tissue - No need to sharpen tooth enamel - Protection of tooth surface against decay and wear - Increasing tooth strength and resistance - Fastness of the treatment process - Improving the color and appearance of teeth - High color variety and the possibility of choosing the color according to taste or coordinating the color of the composite material with the natural color of the teeth - No damage to gum tissue - Repairable - Increasing the attractiveness of the smile Disadvantages of dental composite - Possibility of color change and staining over time - Limited durability and lifespan (dental composite is not lifelong) - The possibility of gum inflammation and infection - The possibility of fracture and lip filling of the composite in case of improper care - The need for periodic repair - Unpleasant feeling in the mouth due to the presence of new and extra materials on the teeth - Possibility of tooth sensitivity to heat and cold for a limited period after installing the composite - Failure to cover all dental defects such as large fractures or severe rotation - Tooth decay under the composite and causing bad breath in case of incorrect and unprincipled installation How is dental composite done? How to perform **How is tooth composite**? Dental composites include a series of specialized and detailed procedures from initial tooth preparation to shaping and final polishing. Knowing how composites are done will help you make more informed decisions to improve the appearance of your teeth and modify your smile design, and have more realistic expectations of the results. 1. Initial examination and consultation to check the condition of the teeth and the patient's expectations from the dental composite 2. Preparing the tooth surface, including cleaning and polishing and, if necessary, partial grinding of the tooth surface 3. Choosing the color of the composite according to the color of the natural teeth as well as the taste and desire of the applicant 4. Placing composite materials layer by layer 5. Shining a special light to harden the paste material 6. Final tooth shaping with special tools 7. Polishing the teeth to make the tooth surface smooth and natural 8. Final check of bite adjustment by the dentist Types of dental composite There are different types of composites that we will introduce each one in this section. ### porcelain Porcelain veneer is a very thin shell made of ceramic or porcelain, which is made in specialized laboratories after molding the tooth and is attached to the tooth with a special adhesive. The purpose of doing this is to cover defects and increase the appearance of teeth. To install this type of composite, it is necessary to shave a small amount of front teeth. The high transparency and polish of the porcelain veneer gives it a very beautiful and natural appearance and encourages many people to do this treatment. ### composite resin Composite resin is a group of dental fillers with minerals and monomers that hardens on the surface of the teeth using blue rays produced in the light cure device. This type of resin is often tooth-colored and is used to restore and repair decayed and damaged teeth. ### IPS IPS composite is a hot pressed glass ceramic material, which is suitable for the restoration of most teeth because of its quality and special structure. This composite has high durability and strength and can be used to fill the cavities of the anterior and posterior teeth and increase the strength of the crown of the teeth. ### microfil The size of the particles that make up the microfil composite or fine grain is less than 100 nm. This feature causes high polishability and its very natural appearance. Creating natural beauty has made this material a suitable option for front teeth restoration. However, microfil composite has little strength and durability. ### macrophyll The size of the particles that make up the macrofil composite is from 10 to 50 micrometers and is larger than other types. This material does not have proper polishability, so its use is obsolete. ### Nanofil Nanofill or nanocomposite is one of the best and most widely used types of dental composite, which is made of particles with dimensions of 20 nanometers. This material is liquid and very fluid, therefore it easily penetrates into dental cavities and has high strength. Therefore, it is suitable for filling and repairing back teeth that bear a lot of pressure. High polishability, abrasion resistance, high adhesion, high strength and durability, suitable plasticity and wide variety of colors are some of the best features of this composite. ### Hybrid Hybrid composite is made from a combination of particles with a size of 40 nm and particles of 10 to 50 micrometers. For this reason, it is as polishable as microfil and as strong as macrofil. This composite is suitable for front teeth, but it may change color over time and lose its original shine. ### Nanohybrid Another type of composite called nanohybrid composite is produced by combining hybrid composite and nano particles. This material has a completely natural color and appearance and a reasonable price. At the same time, to correct the shape and color of the tooth with nanohybrid, there is no need to sharpen the tooth enamel. ### flo Flo composite is made of resin materials with lower viscosity than other types. The main use of this material is to fill small cavities and restore areas of the tooth that need careful restoration. Flo composite can also be used to correct irregularities and dental defects. necessary care after doing composite The durability of dental composite depends on the quality of the materials used, the skill of the dentist and the necessary care after the composite. Poor post-treatment care increases the risk of composite complications. Therefore, to increase the durability of the beauty of the smile after composite and to avoid possible complications, consider the following: - Consuming soft foods and liquids on the day of treatment - Compliance with oral and dental hygiene - Not using an electric toothbrush - Correct use of dental floss - Not using abrasive toothpastes - Avoiding excessive consumption of colored foods such as tea, coffee, sauce, berries Avoid biting and chewing hard foods - Avoiding drinking alcohol - No smoking - Using alcohol-free mouthwashes - Quick visit to the dentist in case of any problem with composite, such as lip filling - Using a mouth guard if you have a habit of grinding your teeth