POLY 59 |
| Michael T. O'Connor Jr., Dentsply International, 38 W. Clarke Avenue, Milford, DE 19963 |
| The most common procedure performed in contemporary dentistry is the restoration of a carious tooth with resin composite. The need for safe, effective, durable, and esthetic restorative materials presents a wide variety of technical challenges. Since clinicians also demand materials that are easy to use and cost effective, product development for this application is a truly daunting task. This paper will focus on resin-composite dental filling materials. First will be a description of procedures used to repair teeth, including cavity preparation and the filling method. Next will be a discussion of several technical approaches used to create strong, durable, and esthetic materials that are easy for dental professionals to use. These include resin chemistry, composite filler characteristics, compatibilizers, and initiators. Finally, several challenges will be described that are the subject of current research in dental materials. |
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The Polymer Science of Everyday Things
1:30 PM-4:50 PM, Sunday, March 23, 2003 Hilton Riverside -- Grand Salon B9/B12, Oral
Division of Polymer Chemistry |