Compomers – The Upcoming Restorative Material

Compomers – The Upcoming Restorative Material

Write a short note on cermet. 
Or
Write a short note on cermet cement.
Answer:

Cermet was first introduced by McLean and Gasser in 1985.

The meaning of cermet is ceramic metal:

• By fusing GIC powder along with silver particles by sintering at high temperatures the product is known as cermet.
• Microfie silver alloy particles of 40% weight and less than 3.5 µm in diameter are mixed with glass powder particles and then sintered together at 800°C under pressure.
• Unreacted silver particles are washed out. Up to 5% of titanium dioxide is added to modify the color.
• The pellet that is formed is ground into fine particles which are cermet

Compomers In Dentistry

Mechanical Properties of cermet is ceramic metal:

• Greater strength and wear resistance
• Mechanical strength is 150 MPa
• Tensile strength is 6.7 MPa
• Fracture toughness is similar to conventional GIC
• Produces anti-cariogenic property
• Highly radiopaque because of its gray color.

Compomers As Restorative Material

Uses of cermet are ceramic metal:

• As core build-up for cast crowns.
• As a class I restoration in young patients with a high incidence of caries.