How is resin used in cosmetic dentistry?

Resin fillings, also called composite, white fillings or bonding, can make a significant improvement in the appearance of teeth in a short period of time. Dentists use resin to repair small cavities or chips in front teeth or to fill cavities cosmetically in the back teeth. Resin can help improve the appearance of teeth in virtually the same way as porcelain veneers. Using resin instead of porcelain for cosmetic dentistry saves time and money. There are, of course, disadvantages to resin.

Resin is not as strong as porcelain veneers and requires repair every few years. Resin also can discolor over time. Where porcelain veneers give a gleaming Hollywood smile, resin does not have as much natural beauty as porcelain.

Resin procedures usually can be completed in about an hour. Costs range from about $100 to about $400 to per tooth.

The use of resin has been a "cornerstone" of cosmetic dentistry since the origin of adhesive bonding, a technique which began in the 1950's by Dr. Michael Buonacore, who developed an etching technique of tooth enamel to enable a mechanical bond of resin filling material. That began the use of a variety of resins used in composite bonding techniques, both for fillings and cosmetic laminating on teeth.

In the 1980's, an etching technique for thinner, and more-lasting, porcelain veneers created an exciting breakthrough to bond porcelain, which has much more natural tooth-like aesthetics, to teeth using newer adhesive composite resins that also had greater strength, resiliency and resisitance to staining and discoloration.   

Resin is the matrix which holds tooth-colored fillings ("composites") together, and is the element of those fillings that bonds to the tooth itself.  I have some composite fillings in my own back teeth ("molars"), which have held up for over 15 years, so when properly placed, they can last as long as the old-fashioned silver fillings.  In fact, the silver fillings that were in my teeth previously caused large fractures of some of my teeth.  I personally don't place any silver fillings because of this trait.  When placing composite fillings in the back teeth, cosmetics is a secondary benefit (in my opinion).  To me, the primary benefit is the strong bond to the tooth and within the filling itself, which result in a stronger restored tooth.

Resin-based restorations tend to carry a higher fee than the old silver fillings, but when placed by a dentist experienced with composites and bonding, the investment can result in long-term savings.  An example might be postponement or even elimination of the need for a more expensive crown, thanks to the bonding feature of these fillings.

When the term "resin" is used in dentistry it usually (but not always) refers to composite resin. Composite resin is used both as a filling material and as a cementing agent, usually in combination with "bonding". While Dr. Curatola is right that bonding was developed by Buonocore in the 1950s, it was slow to gain traction. When I was in school in the 1970’s, we did use composite resin, but very few dentists were using bonding routinely. Composites were used primarily in front teeth where their cosmetic advantage outweighed their severe (at the time) shortcomings of shrinkage, leaky margins, and recurrent decay.

Bonding greatly decreased the leaky margins and recurrent decay, as did the introduction of light-cured resins. But it is far from universally agreed that composite is a uniformly superior than amalgam, especially for larger fillings in back teeth.

It is always best to discuss your concerns about filling materials with your dentist, who should be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of the various filling materials in the particular context of the restoration to be done in your tooth.

Resin is used in dentistry in general to create good esthetics when repairing or covering up imperfect teeth. if there are cavities, we can use a color shade of resin, or composite, that matches the remaining healthy tooth structure. They allow dentists to be very conservative with the removing of tooth material giving the tooth a longer life. they can also be used to build up small or oddly shaped teeth.

The technology of Resin has made it possible to have a micro-mechanical and chemical bond to Tooth Structure as well as mimic the esthetic qualities of teeth. This allows Dentists to restore teeth in the most conservative and esthetic way possible. Also known as Composite or bonding it can be used as a filling material or as a type of cement for All Porcelain Restorations in Cosmetic Dentistry. Traditional Amalgam Fillings and traditional cements do not have this capability. Besides the unaesthetic appeal of "Silver" fillings, Amalgam fillings use the remaining tooth structure to stay in place and can lead to fractures in the remaining tooth structure. 

Usually it is used for fillings to fix cavities or repair other damages to teeth. It can match your tooth color and it is strong as it is bonded to your teeth. In some cases, they can be custom made and be cemented to your teeth for stronger results.

Resin (also white or composite) can be used for fillings in any area of the mouth. When new resin fillings are used to replace silver fillings on teeth that are visible when we smile or talk, the appearance of the teeth is enhanced. Resin fillings can also be used in conjunction with tooth whitening for cosmetic dentistry that is more affordable than porcelain veneers.

Resin is used in many areas of dentistry including cosmetic dentistry.

It is used in dental sealants, liners, cements, temporary crown material, veneers on teeth, veneers of crowns, filling materials and many other applications. Of course, each use and material requires a different resin formulation to create the correct properties to achieve the desired result.

Many of today's cosmetic procedures would not be possible without resin materials. For example, porcelain veneers are bonded using resin cements with specific shades and opacities that flow to a very thin thickness. Composite resin itself, similar to the material used for tooth colored fillings, can also be used for veneering of teeth. Also composite resin material is often the choice of many patients for esthetic tooth colored fillings of teeth.