COMPOSITE TECHNIQUE    SMILE DESIGN     COMPANIES/MATERIALS    MATERIAL SCIENCE

     COMPOSITE VENEER TECHNIQUE

Composite veneers on central incisors look rough, stained, have marginal breakdown and poor color.  Particles greater than one micron are visible to the eye.  Composite with filler particles larger than one micron produce a rough appearance as resin matrix wears around them.

Composite is removed with diamond burs.  A defective class three filling is removed from the right central incisor.  Bonding is completed and an opaque composite used to restore the class three area.  Opaque composite is used to block darkness from the back of the mouth which would show through the restoration making it appear darker.  Tooth color behind the restoration is a normal dentin color so placement of a translucent enamel composite layer is placed.  Composite is rolled into a ball and placed in the middle of the facial surface.  The rounded shape allows point contact of composite to tooth structure.  As composite is pressed onto the surface with finger pressure, no air is trapped during lateral spread of composite.  Final shaping is accomplished with composite instruments.  A tapping motion is used if a composite instrument sticks to the composite.

Interproximal areas are trimmed with diamond and sandpaper strips.  Final contours are established with sandpaper disks, burs and polishing cups.  Diamond burs create a textured surface.  Fine areas are polished with fine sandpaper disks, polishing cups and polishing pastes angled into fine areas.