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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / October 2006Composites and professional cleaning
I just had a light-cured composite filling done on the buccal side of #12 near the margin, which replaced an old composite done back in the '80s that had deteriorated. Question for Docs: When I have my professional cleanings done, I always ask the hygenist to use a scalar rather than ultrasonic due to sensitivity issues with the ultrasound. Is modern-day composite material strong enough to withstand the use of the scalar or could it be susceptible to damage, and would it be safer to use the ultrasound? Thanks. > I just had a light-cured composite filling done on the buccal side of > #12 near the margin, which replaced an old composite done back in the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > be susceptible to damage, and would it be safer to use the ultrasound? > Thanks. Near the margin of what? Excellent to have a composite last upwards of 20 years! Sensitivity can be greater or lesser with ultrasonic than by hand, depending on many things, incl. how much water is used in the ultrasonic (the water is a coolant and if not enough is used the heat can cause the sensitivity), how heavy a hand the operator has, etc. A well-placed composite resin filling should hold up nicely to either hand or ultrasonic scaling, given a proper technique. Steve  SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 > > I just had a light-cured composite filling done on the buccal side of > > #12 near the margin, which replaced an old composite done back in the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Near the margin of what? Thanks for the reply, Steve. I meant, near the margin of the tooth and the gumline. > Excellent to have a composite last upwards of 20 years! > Sensitivity can be greater or lesser with ultrasonic than by hand, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Steve The bottom line of my question was, is composite strong enough to withstand the scraping force of the hand-driven scalar tool and I believe your answer is that it should be. My thinking was (maybe incorrect) that ultrasound uses less force, pressure or whatever you want to call it and might be better for cleaning a composite filling. But you're saying that the technique of the hygenist is the more important factor. Another question; is composite filling as strong as natural tooth enamel? Thanks again. > -- > Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS > http://www.dentaltwins.com > Brooklyn, NY > 718-258-5001 >>>I just had a light-cured composite filling done on the buccal side of >>>#12 near the margin, which replaced an old composite done back in the [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > Thanks again. Seems like it should be a simple question to answer, but not really. Generally speaking, resin wears more rapidly than enamel. It is quite likely that this filling is on or near the root surface though, and it will probably wear no more rapidly than the dentin it is probably placed in. Wear is (in any case) less of an issue at the gumline than it is on the chewing surface. At the gumline you mostly only have to put up with toothbrush abrasion, which should be minimal if you're brushing right. And resins have improved so much in the past 20 years that I figure you should be good for another 40 or 50 years with this one. ;-) Steve >>-- >>Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS >>http://www.dentaltwins.com >>Brooklyn, NY >>718-258-5001 SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 |
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