Composite resin is a cement-like substance that dentists use during cosmetic and restorative dental treatments. Its versatility, malleability, and durability make it an increasingly frequent and valuable tool in modern dentistry.
Treatment with this material is both effective and affordable, so many patients take advantage of the oral health benefits it provides already. Your dentist can illustrate the capabilities of this product when it comes to your unique smile during a dental consultation appointment. Read on to learn about three of the ways a dentist employs composite resin during dental procedures.
How Will My Dentist Utilize Resin?
Dental Fillings
When you get a cavity, your dentist will treat this early form of tooth decay by drilling away the damaged part of the tooth. This leaves a hole in the enamel that exposes the vulnerable interior of the tooth. Your dentist will then need to fill this hole and restore the dental structure.
Composite resin makes an ideal material for a dental filling because it molds to the desired shape of the tooth and creates a seal to protect this vulnerable part of the tooth after a dentist cures it. The white color of this resin filling also blends into the natural tooth color, providing an aesthetically pleasing finish. In the past, dentists often used metal alloys for fillings. But resin proves more popular and advantageous with dental patients today.
Cosmetic Teeth Bonding
Dentists use composite resin in a cosmetic dental treatment called teeth bonding. During this process, a dentist will apply the resin to the affected teeth and sculpt it according to the patient’s aesthetic goals. This provides many aesthetic benefits for a patient’s smile, including:
- Brightening tooth color
- Reshaping irregular teeth
- Amending minor tooth breakage
- Filling gaps between teeth
- Straightening and evening out smile
The dentist cures the resin to solidify it into place and then polishes it for a gorgeous finish. The malleable material can accomplish unique smile goals and then remain in place for three to five years even as the patient continues their usual oral functions. Bonding can be subject to staining. So follow aftercare guidelines from your dentist to preserve and maximize the smile enhancement effects of this treatment.
Adhesive for Other Dental Work
Composite resin has a cement-like effect, so dentists often use it as an adhesive within dental work. For instance, they will apply it to the teeth of patients before placing porcelain veneers over the smile. This bonding hardens and keeps the veneers in place for long-lasting smile enhancement that can last for fifteen years or longer.
To make the bonding better adhere to the teeth, the dentist etches into the enamel of the affected teeth to prepare the surface. They do this for cosmetic bonding treatment too. You will receive a local anesthetic to ensure you remain comfortable during this part of the procedure.
Resin allows you to rely on the durability and secure fit of your dental work. Trust your dental fixtures by understanding how resin can keep them in place for an extended period.