Composite materials: composition, properties and clinical applications. A literature review

Abstract

Various composite materials are available today for direct restorative techniques. The most well-known materials are the hybrid composites. This technology, based on methacrylates and different types of filler coupled with silanes, has been continuously improved. Disadvantages such as polymerisation shrinkage, bacterial adhesion and side effects due to monomer release still remain. The aim of material development is to eliminate or at least reduce these negative factors by adapting the individual components of the material. With ormocers, the methacrylate has been partially replaced by an inorganic network. According to recent studies, the biocompatibility was not improved in all cases. The development of compomer was an attempt to combine the positive properties of glassionomers with composite technology. This has only partially succeeded, because the fluoride release is low. In an in-situ study, a caries protective effect could be shown at least in the first days following filling placement with concurrent extra-oral demineralisation. By replacing the chain-monomers in the composite matrix by ring-shaped molecules, a new approach to reduce polymerisation shrinkage was investigated. A new group of materials, the siloranes, has been developed. Siloranes are hydrophobic and need to be bonded to the dental hard tissue using a special adhesive system. Long-term clinical studies are still needed to prove the superiority of this new group of materials over modern hybrid composites.