| Comparison of Direct Restorative Dental Materials |
| FACTORS |
AMALGAM |
COMPOSITES
Direct and Indirect |
GLASS IONOMERS |
RESIN-IONOMERS |
General Description |
A mixture of mercury and silver alloy powder that forms a hard solid metal filling. Self-hardening at mouth temperature. |
A mixture of submicron glass filler and acrylic that forms a solid tooth-colored restoration. Self- or light-hardening at mouth temperature. |
Self-hardening mixture of fluoride containing glass powder and organic acid that forms a solid tooth colored restoration able to release fluoride. |
Self or light- hardening mixture of sub-micron glass filler with fluoride containing glass powder and acrylic resin that forms a solid tooth colored restoration able to release fluoride. |
Principal Uses |
Dental fillings and heavily loaded back tooth restorations. |
Esthetic dental fillings and veneers. |
Small non-load bearing fillings, cavity liners and cements for crowns and bridges. |
Small non-load bearing fillings, cavity liners and cements for crowns and bridges. |
Leakage and
Recurrent Decay
|
Leakage is moderate, but recurrent decay is no more prevalent than other materials. |
Leakage low when properly bonded to underlying tooth; recurrent decay depends on maintenance of the tooth-material bond. |
Leakage is generally low; recurrent decay is comparable to other direct materials, fluoride release may be beneficial for patients at high risk for decay. |
Leakage is low when properly bonded to the underlying tooth; recurrent decay is comparable to other direct materials, fluoride release may be beneficial for patients at high risk for decay. |
Clinical Considerations |
Tolerant to a wide range of clinical placement conditions, moderately tolerant to the presence of moisture during placement. |
Must be placed in a well-controlled field of operation; very little tolerance to presence of moisture during placement. |
Resistance to Wear |
Highly resistant to wear. |
Moderately resistant, but less so than amalgam. |
High wear when placed on chewing surfaces. |
Resistance to Fracture |
Brittle, subject to chipping on filling edges, but good bulk strength in larger high- load restorations. |
Moderate resistance to fracture in high-load restorations. |
Low resistance to fracture. |
Low to moderate resistance to fracture. |
Biocompatibility |
Well-tolerated with rare occurrences of allergenic response. |
Post-Placement Sensitivity |
Early sensitivity to hot and cold possible. |
Occurrence of sensitivity highly dependent on ability to adequately bond the restoration to the underlying tooth. |
Low. |
Occurrence of sensitivity highly dependent on ability to adequately bond the restoration to the underlying tooth. |
Esthetics |
Silver or gray metallic color does not mimic tooth color. |
Mimics natural tooth color and translucency, but can be subject to staining and discoloration over time. |
Mimics natural tooth color, but lacks natural translucency of enamel. |
Mimics natural tooth color, but lacks natural translucency of enamel. |
Relative Cost to Patient |
Generally lower; actual cost of fillings depends on their size. |
Moderate; actual cost of fillings depends on their size and technique. |
Moderate; actual cost of fillings depends on their size and technique. |
Moderate; actual cost of fillings depends on their size and technique. |
Average Number of Visits To Complete |
One. |
One for direct fillings; 2+ for indirect inlays, veneers and crowns. |
One. |
One. |
