Composite resin refers to a malleable, synthetic material that a dentist uses in many types of dental treatments. Its flexibility allows it to offer more fine-tuned and individualized results that suit unique dental needs than metals. This resin also functions like cement to ensure long-lasting effects that will survive within the oral environment.
Despite its clear advantages, some people may feel nervous about introducing new material to their mouth during dental work. To alleviate any lingering fears, read on to find three ways that a dentist uses composite resin to improve your oral health.
How Do Dentists Employ Composite Resin?
Fill Holes in Teeth After Cavities
A majority of people will get at least one cavity, and a dentist can treat this early form of tooth decay easily. They will drill away the decayed part of the tooth and fill the resulting hole with composite resin.
Dentists prefer to use resin for dental fillings because the resin provides an ideal seal to protect the now vulnerable portion of the tooth. The tooth-colored resin also gives a natural-looking finish and restores the shape and structure of the tooth in a way a patient can feel confident about.
Dentists may also use metal alloys to fill a cavity, but the dark-colored finish is less appealing for patients. The filling will remain in place for ten years with proper care.
Achieve Smile Aesthetic Goals
Composite resin has beneficial properties to restore and preserve dental health. But it is useful in cosmetic dentistry as well. The white color and malleability allow it to be used to achieve specific aesthetic goals for a patient’s smile.
Teeth bonding treatment refers to a cosmetic procedure where a dentist will apply resin to a patient’s teeth according to their smile goals. The dentist can reshape teeth, brighten discoloration, fill gaps between teeth, and cover small chips or cracks. The flexible material will harden and remain in place when cured with a specialized light.
You can feel confident in the look of your smile again with this dental solution. Be careful after you receive this treatment because bonding can form stains if you eat or drink certain items.
Adhere Dental Fixtures to Teeth
Composite resin serves as a type of dental cement because it hardens and fits securely to the teeth when cured under a light. A dentist can etch into the enamel of the teeth to allow the resin to adhere more effectively too.
Therefore, a dentist will use resin to attach certain dental fixtures to the teeth, such as porcelain veneers. They will prepare the surface of the teeth, apply the resin over them, and then place the veneers over the front of the teeth, building a customized and beautiful smile.
Veneers are a cosmetic dental solution, but they can offer oral health benefits too. With care and maintenance, porcelain veneers will remain in place using bonding for fifteen years or more.