Pacific Academy of Higher Education & Research

Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics,

Pacific Dental College & Hospital, Udaipur

Seminar on

COMPOSITE : COMPOSITION, TYPES AND PROPERTIES

Presented by
Dr. Kangjam Sylvia
1st Year Post Graduate

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 CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION
2. HISTORY
3. COMPOSITION
4. CLASSIFICATION
5. PROPERTIES
6. CONCLUSION
7. REFERENCE

INTRODUCTION

Composite resin are a class of well established restorative materials that have their own indication. Dental
composite have continued to evolve with the development of smaller particle size, better bonding systems,
curing refinements and sealing systems. They are the most universally used direct tooth coloured materials. It is
the combination of a polymer and ceramic where the polymer is used to bind ceramic particles. The polymers
function as the matrix in dental composites and the particles are reinforcing materials. Polymer matrix
composites are known as resin composites.
Definition – A highly crosslinked polymeric material reinforced by a dispersion of amorphous silica, glass,
crystalline or organic resin filler particles and short fibres bonded to the matrix by a coupling agent.
It is used as sealants, intra coronal and extra coronal restoration, veneers, denture teeth, cements, core buildup
and bonding in orthodontic treatment.

HISTORY

Tooth coloured restorative material have increasingly been used to replace missing teeth structure and to modify
tooth colour and contour, thus enhancing facial aesthetics.
During the half of the 20th century, silicates were the only tooth material available but no longer used to restore
permanent teeth.
 In 1955, Micheal Buanocore introduced the concept of bonding acrylic to teeth by acid etching.
 In 1962, Raphael Bowen began to experiment on reinforcing epoxy resin with filler particles.
 In 1960, macrofilled composite was introduced
 In 1970, microfilled and light initiated composites
 In 1980, posterior composite
 In 1990, hybrid, flowable and packable composite
 In 2000, nanofilled composite.

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 COMPOSITION AND THEIR FUNCTION

The basic components of composite resins include the following:

1. Resin matrix
2. Filler particles
3. Silane coupling agent
4. Activator-initiator system
5. Inhibitors
6. Optical modifiers/colouring agents

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 RESIN MATRIX

Resin matrix is a plastic resin material that forms a continuous phase and binds the filler particles. The resin
matrix is composed of monomers which are aromatic or aliphatic dimethacrylates such as
 BisGMA - Bisphenol – A – glycidyl methacrylate.
 UDMA - Urethane dimethacrylate.
 TEGDMA – Triethylene gycol dimethacrylate

They form highly cross-linked polymer structures in composites and sealant materials.

Combination of BisGMA and UDMA

- Provides the bulk form

- Hold all ingredients in one mass
- Able to polymerise
- Responsible for material setting.

FILLER PARTICLES

It is a reinforcing particles or fibres that are dispersed in the matrix. It is composed of silica particles, quartz
and glass. The primary purpose of filler particles are to strengthen a composite and to reduce the amount of
matrix material. The more filler, the better leads to increase the strength and reduces amount of
polymerisation shrinkage.

FUNCTION:

1. Reinforcement
2. Reduction of polymerisation shrinkage/contraction
3. Reduction in thermal expansion and contraction
4. Control of workability/viscosity
5. Decreased water sorption
6. Imparting radiopacity

COUPLING AGENT

Silane coupling agent is a bonding agent that promotes adhesion between filler and resin matrix. The
chemical bond between the two phases of the composite is formed by a coupling agent.

Type: gamma methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane

The chemical of this type shows how a silane coupling agent is hydrolysed and becomes attached to silica
and glass filler particle surfaces then reactive and can couple the particles to the resin matrix by
copolymerisation with the double bond in the silane propyl methacrylate group.

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 FUNCTION:

1. Decrease water uptake

2. Decrease the solubility rate
3. Improve physical and mechanical properties.

ACTIVATION OR INITIATION SYSTEM

It is of two types:

1. CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED (SELF CURE)

- Supplied as two pastes form

- Base paste - Benzoyl peroxide
- Catalyst paste – N,N-dimethyl-p-Toluidine
- When the two pastes are mixed together, the amine reacts with the benzoyl peroxide to form free
radicals and addition polymerisation is initiated.

ADVANTAGES:

 Convenience and simplicity

 Long term storage stability

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  Manipulation
 Degree of cure
 Marginal stress buildup.

DISADVANTAGES:

 Mixing causes air entrapment

 Color instability
 Difficult to mix evenly.

2. PHOTOCHEMICALLY ACTIVATED (LIGHT CURE)

- Supplied as 1 paste contained in a light proof syringe

- Camphoroquinone photosensitizer

The first light activated systems were formulated for UV light to initiate free radicals. UV light cured
composite have been replaced by visible blue light activated system with great improved depth of cure and
controllable working time.

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ADVANTAGES:

 Easy to use
 Less porosity
 Less sensitive to oxygen
 Faster setting
 Better mechanical properties

DISADVANTAGES:

 Time consuming
 Poor accessibility
 Shrinkage
 Cost
 Sensitive to ambient light

INHIBITORS

They are added to prevent spontaneous polymerisation of the monomers by inhibiting the free radical.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) – 0.01% is added ad an inhibitor in composite resin.

FUNCTION:

 Extends storage life

 provides sufficient working time

OPTICAL MODIFIERS

Foe a natural appearance, dental composites must have visual shading and translucency similar to the tooth
surface. Shading is achieved by adding various pigments such as metal oxide. Translucency and opacity are
adjusted by adding titanium dioxide and aluminium oxide. Darker shades and greater opacities have a
decreased depth of light curing ability and require either an increased exposure time or a thinner layer when
cured.

CLASSIFICATION

A) Classification by filler particles:

1. Macrofilled composite
2. Small or fined particle composite
3. Hybrid composite
4. Midfillers composite
5. Minifillers composite
6. Microfillers composite
7. Nanofillers composite

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 B) Classification by manipulation characteristics:

1. Flowable composite
2. Condensable/packable composite

C) Classification based on matrices:

1. Organic matric composite

2. Metallic matric composite
3. Ceramic matrix composite
4. Carbon and graphite matric composite

FLOWABLE COMPOSITE

Flowable composite was introduced in 1996. It is characterised by the presence of filler particles that have a
particle size similar to hybrid composite but the filler content is reduced which results in viscosity. It has less
sticky property during handling and greater ease of adaptation and flexibility.

PROPERTIES:

 Filler size – 0.6 to 1µm

 Filler content – 30 to 55 wt%
 Compressive strength 4-8 Gpa
 Flexural strength 70-120MPa
 Depth of cure – 6 mm

GENERATION:

First generation: low filler content

 pit-and fissure sealants, small anterior restorations or marginal repair materials.

Second generation: high filler content

 Materials with higher filler content (second generation).

 class I, II, III, IV, and V restorations

MACROFILLED COMPOSITE

Macrofilled composites were the first to introduced in 1960s.

 The filler type – Quarts

 Particle size – 10 to 25 µm
 Filler content – 70 to 80 % by weight

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  Rough surface texture

ADVANTAGES:
• All properties are superior to those of unfilled acrylic resins.

DISADVANTAGES:
• Rough surface due to "plucking" of fillers from the matrix.
• Increased wear.
• Non-polishability.
• Prone to staining and discoloration

MICROFILLED COMPOSITES

 Late 1970s
 Particle size – 0.01 to 0.04 µm
 The filler – colloidal silica
 Low percentage filler (40-50%)
 smooth, polished surface that is less receptive to plaque or extrinsic staining

there are two types:

1. Heterogeneous microfill
- This composite is a blend of precured microfill composite with uncured material

2. Homogeneous microfill
- Unmodified microfills are called homogeneous microfills

HYBRID COMPOSITES

 Late 1980s
 They are strong and polish well
 Their filler content – 75 to 80% by weight
 The filler particle – 0.5 to 1 µm size
 Physical and mechanical properties of hybrid composites are better than those of microfilled
composites.

ADVANTAGES:
 Superior surface smoothness.
 Improved radiopacity due to heavy metal glass fillers.
 Reasonably good strength.

DISADVANTAGES:
 Mechanical properties are inferior to those of small particle composites.

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 NANOFILL COMPOSITES

 Filler particle – 0.005 to 0.01 µm

 clustered or aggregated into large units
 can be blended with nanoparticles to produce nano-hybrids.
 nanofill and nanohybrid composites are the most popular composite restorative materials in use.

PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE

A) PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

1. Working and setting times

2. Polymerisation shrinkage and stress

B) THERMAL PROPERTIES

1. Water sorption
2. Solubility
3. Colour and colour stability

C) MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

1. Strength and modulus

2. Knoop hardness
3. Bond strength to enamel substances

D) CLINICAL PROPERTIES

1. Depth of cure
2. Radiopacity
3. Wear rates
4. Biocompatibility

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 WORKING AND SETTING TIME

 Self cured - working time less than 90 secs.

 it is exothermic reaction .
 Setting time ranges from 3 mins to 5 mins.
 For light cured composites, although it hardens on exposure of light but curing reaction continues for
24 hrs.
 About 50% of composite material is fully polymerized within 10 mins of application of light source.

POLYMERISATION SHRINKAGE AND STRESS

 Composite materials shrink while hardening.

 Volumetric shrinkage upon setting – result in the development of contraction stress.
 Careful control of the amount and insertion point of the material and appropriate placement of
etchant, primer, and adhesive on the prepared tooth structure to improve bonding reduce these
problems.

METHODS TO REDUCE POLYMERIZATION SHRINKAGE

 Increasing filler content

 Using better bonding agents
 Incremental placement.
 "Soft start " polymerization
 Use stress breaking liners

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 WATER SORPTION

 Water absorbed by the material over time per unit of surface area or volume.
 Filler particles adsorb water
 Swelling of matrix & debonding of fillers
 Expansion of restoration
 The quality and stability of the silane coupling agent are important in minimizing the deterioration of
the bond between the filler and polymer and the amount of water sorption.

SOLUBILITY

 Solubility is the loss in weight per unit surface area or volume secondary to dissolution or
disintegration of a material in oral fluids, over time, at a given temperature.
 No clinically relevant solubility.
 The water solubility of composites varies from 0.25 to 2.5 mg/mm3

COLOR AND COLOR STABILITY

 Modern-day composites are often supplied by the manufacturer in multiple opacities.

 Discoloration can also occur by oxidation and result from water exchange within the polymer matrix
and its interaction with unreacted polymer sites and unused initiator or accelerator.
 Color stability of current composites has been studied by artificial aging in a weathering chamber
(exposure to UV light and elevated temperatures of 70 °C) and by immersion in various stains

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 STRENGTH AND MODULUS

 Compressive strength is of importance because of the chewing forces.

 The flexural and compressive moduli of microfilled and flowable composites
- 50% lower –
multipurpose hybrids and packable composites

CLINICAL PROPERTIES

DEPTH OF CURE

 Light intensity decreases

 depends on the wavelength of light, its irradiance, and the scattering that takes place within the
restoration
 The tip of the light within 1 mm of the surface to provide optimum exposure
 exposure time is 20 seconds
 depth of 2 or 2.5 mm.

CONCLUSION

Today, composite have come a long way from the early used unfilled resin. New research and development
in these materials have made it possible to overcome their initial drawbacks. Composites with their various
application have encroached unto all fields of dentistry and it is used in bonding process of orthodontic
treatment and as in orthodontic retainers.
With all this inherent advantages and vast application composites have become one of the most used material
to look out for the present millennium.

REFERENCES

 Craig’s Restorative Dental Material, 14th Edition.

 Phillips’ Science of Dental Materials, 12th Edition.
 Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, 5th Edition

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