Flowable Composite Resin: A Versatile Material
Write a short note on flowable composites.
Answer:
Flowable composites are characterized by the presence of filer parties that have particular sizes similar to that of hybrid composites but filer content is reduced which results in a decrease in viscosity.
The following are the features of flowable composites:
- Filler content is 20–25%.
- Because of less filer amount flow is increased.
- The depth of cure is 6 mm.
- Stickiness to the instrument makes it difficult to smoothen the material.
- Mechanical properties of material like compressive strength, diametric tensile strength, biaxial flexural strength, and toughness values are about 60–90% of those of conventional composites.
Application of flowable composites:
- Used as filling material in low-stress bearing areas.
- Useful in areas of difficult access like in repairing amalgam, composite and crown margins, pit and fissure, preventive resin restoration
- Useful for repairing porcelain.
- Resurfacing worn composite or glass ionomer restorations for rebuilding worn contact areas in composite restorations.
- Tunnel restorations
- Core build-up
- Veneer material
- Cementing agents for porcelain restorations.
- As liner in class I and class II restorations.
Contraindication: In classes I, II, and IV restorations because of high stress.
Advantages of Flowable Composites
- It forms a thin layer over a composite over a hybrid layer which eliminates air entrapment.
- Due to high flexibility, it acts as a stress reliever in high-stress concentration areas such as cervical areas.
- Flowable composite increases marginal adaptation in the gingival marginal area in class II restoration and decreases microleakage.
The disadvantage of Flowable Composites:
- Due to the lower filer load flowable composite exhibits high curing shrinkage and low mechanical properties.
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