What are photopolymers for teeth and how to use them

There are special requirements for materials used in medicine. An oral denture is a foreign body that the body seeks to reject. Digestion of food begins here, which means that saliva is an aggressive liquid, under its influence even the teeth’s own enamel is destroyed. Chewing is accompanied by repeated pressure on the plane with a force of up to 100 kg/cm2. The denture should not release toxins or interfere with the sense of taste. The surface color, shape and volume remain unchanged for a long time.

Photopolymers in dentistry

Photopolymer for teeth - what is it and how exactly is it used in dentistry? This is a high-molecular compound that has the property of transitioning from a liquid to a solid state under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The material was invented in the late 70s of the last century by employees of the American company Dart Industries Inc.

Photopolymer resins are intended for the manufacture of dentures; they are completely safe for medical use. With their help, 3D models are created at high speed. They are also used for filling teeth, allowing them to significantly improve their appearance.

Photopolymers have the following qualities: strength, durability, aesthetic appeal. A variety of shades allows you to choose the most suitable filling color. When choosing a material, you should focus on its optical, mechanical and physicochemical characteristics. These parameters are needed to adapt photopolymer resins for 3D printers.

Classification of photopolymer materials by level of filling (or by the ratio of filler and matrix)

• Macro-filled (filler content – ​​75-80%, particle size – from 5 to 100 microns).
• Microfilled (filler content – ​​40-70%, particle size – from 1 to 10 microns).
• Nanocomposites (filler content – ​​30-60%, particle size – from 0.0007 to 0.04 microns).

Different types of materials are used to restore different groups of teeth.

The Print Dent online store offers a wide range of high-quality photopolymer resins from well-known manufacturers: Detax. The products are intended for wide use in dental practice. The online store has a registration certificate that allows the use of materials for 3D printing in medicine.

Variety of photopolymer resins in the catalog:

• Dental Yellow/Clear – has hypoallergenic properties, used after finishing polymerization;
• Dental Sand – used for making temporary dental structures;
• Freeprint cast is a light-curing polymer for the generative production of objects using precision casting technology;
• Freeprint model UV – used for the manufacture of dental models, has maximum hardness and shape stability;
• Freeprint splint is a biocompatible photopolymer intended for the generative production of drilling templates for implantology, X-ray templates and bite splints.

Plastic Safety Standards

For all types of prosthetics, special composite compounds are used, approved after many years of testing. The use of polymers is regulated by GOST 31574-2012. Its requirements correspond to international ones - ISO 4049:1988 for filling materials and ISO 10477:1992 selection of materials for bridges or crowns. The determining indicators of the reliability of orthopedic compositions are the following:

• strength;
• hardness;
• elasticity:
• viscosity;
• plastic;
• fluidity.

Chemical composition of photopolymers, contraindications to their use

The materials consist of various combinations of long and short monomers, oligomers, photoinitiators and additives. Various formulas can be created with a wide range of properties: transparent or colored polymers, flexible or rigid, viscous or heat-resistant.

Characteristics of the main components:

• oligomers and monomers – are the basis of the polymer and form a solid;
• photoinitiators - molecules that react to ultraviolet radiation and initiate a reaction;
• additives – visual and functional additions (pigments, inks, etc.).

Contraindications for the use of photopolymers

• Allergic reactions to individual components.
• Increased occlusal load.
• High degree of dental caries damage.
• The presence of inflammatory processes in the root.
• Poor oral hygiene.
• A tooth can only be restored with a crown.

Dental polymers for the clinic

Before removing a diseased tooth, it is treated for a long time, trying to save it. Filling compounds, corrective onlays, and veneers are used here. It has been experimentally established that copolymer polymers are better suited than other materials for tooth repair at any stage of caries. The seal is subject to harsh operating conditions:

• bears an equal load with natural biomaterial, while being a foreign body.
• The filling is exposed to the surrounding, humid-aggressive environment.
• The destruction of the material occurs under the combined factors, the filling falls out, which indicates low adhesion between the filling material and the bone tissue.

Studies have shown that the initial copolymer methyl methacrylate had weak adhesion and a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The new material included epoxy resins. The resulting putties were devoid of the listed disadvantages, but hardened for a long time. Positive properties were combined by the synthesis of epoxy-methacrylic copolymers. This filling material suited to practitioners is known as Bis-GMA or acrylic oxide. With its advent, it became possible to eliminate chips on the enamel and form a cutter on the pin. The addition of fillers made it possible to obtain a paste-like composition without the release of volatile toxins. Dentists consider nanocomposites to be the best material for dental treatment. One of them is a compomer - a universal composite of monomer, polyacrylic acid and resin, plus amine and benzoyl peroxide. The composition is glass ionomer cement, homogeneous, durable, and is installed on chewing teeth.

Fixed decorative microprostheses

Irregularities and defects of teeth in the smile area can be corrected. Long-term treatment or quick adjustments are possible with the help of special dental plates - veneers. Anyone can flash a white-toothed smile. Each such component is a separate microprosthesis that veneers the tooth.

Mechanism of adhesion of composites to dentin

To obtain a strong adhesion, the following technique is used:

1. Treatment of dentin with acid.
2. Primer treatment.
3. Application of hydrophobic adhesive.
4. Insulation.
5. Traditional cavity preparation.
6. Treatment with 70% alcohol and ether.
7. Gasket application.
8. Application of etching gel.
9. Application of a two-component hydrophobic adhesive.
10. Filling the cavity.
11. Final treatment of the cavity.

Requirements that must be observed when working with photopolymer

• The ultraviolet light source must be checked periodically, since if its physical properties deteriorate, the quality of the photopolymer will decrease.
• The carious cavity should be filled in layers, this will promote more complete polymerization.
• To prevent premature curing of the photopolymer, it must be protected from extraneous light sources during operation.
• To compensate for shrinkage, directional polymerization techniques should be used.

Good to know. It is necessary to limit the access of unauthorized persons and animals to photopolymer resins.

You can purchase 3D printers for dentistry in the Print Dent online store. These devices are used in dental offices and dental laboratories for the production of crowns, bridges, frames for casting and pressing ceramics, and other dental models. The 3D printers Asiga MAX (have high productivity with minimal dimensions) and Asiga PRO2 62 (designed for the production of large volumes of dental models and high-precision burnable and temporary orthopedic structures) are very popular among clients.

Mechanism of adhesion of composites to enamel

To achieve the required adhesion, the following technique is used:

1. A bevel of 45° or more is formed, this will increase the active adhesion surface of the enamel and composite.
2. The enamel is etched with 30% phosphoric acid for 15-60 seconds. As a result, organic plaque is removed, micro-roughness of the enamel is formed, and the marginal permeability at the enamel-photopolymer interface is reduced.
3. Polymerization is carried out using enamel (hydrophobic) bonds based on the BIS-GMA monomer. Then processes are formed that will provide micromechanical adhesion of the enamel to the bond.
4. An adhesive system is used.
5. The tooth is filled.
6. Final processing is underway.

3D scanning technology is actively gaining popularity in dentistry. The use of 3D scanners can significantly reduce costs in dental production, increase treatment efficiency and business profitability. Managers of the Print Dent online store will help customers select equipment taking into account their tasks.

Features of photopolymer fillings

A photopolymer filling is a flexible material that hardens over time, designed to fill and level dentin defects and restore hard dental tissues. The filling consists of a mixture of polymer and filler, its service life is 5 years or more. Due to a number of unique properties, photopolymer fillings are widely in demand in modern dentistry.

It is important to know. Photopolymer fillings can be placed on the front and back teeth.

The use of fillings allows you to solve the following problems:

• complete restoration of damaged teeth;
• change in the length and shape of teeth;
• securing the movable crown;
• restoration of hopeless teeth “from scratch” (only the root is used).

The disadvantages of photopolymers include shrinkage and marginal adherence, so they are not suitable for covering large tooth defects and cannot be used as an alternative to prosthetics.

Advantages of photopolymer fillings

• Rapid hardening in the oral cavity.
• Aesthetically attractive appearance.
• Excellent hold.
• Excellent polishability.
• A large selection of color palettes makes it easy to choose the desired tone.
• Possibility of completely restoring the shape of the tooth.
• Long service life.
• Minimal risk that the photopolymer will fall out or crumble.
• You can eat food almost immediately after the filling is installed.

Photopolymer materials hermetically seal sensitive tooth tissues. With their help, the dentist will be able to recreate the natural anatomy of the teeth, while the chewing load will be distributed evenly. The photopolymer filling will blend with the healthy areas of the tooth, guaranteeing an irresistible smile.

Requirements for the materials from which the base of the prosthesis is made

All parts of the foreign plate of false jaws, correction of congenital defects require a soft pad that does not cause irritation of the internal membranes. Elastic materials are an integral part of the prosthesis. The synthesis of polymers with specified properties ensures the selection of a basis for removable plate jaws. The finished plate should fit tightly to living tissues without injuring them. When installed in the oral cavity, the prosthesis should change its shape slightly and be elastic. Plastic should not have its own smell, taste, and should be easy to clean from plaque without changing color. The industry produces dental plastics of several types:

• acrylic;
• polyvinyl chloride;
• rubber;
• fluorine rubber.

Dental restoration with photopolymer

The latest generation of photopolymers allows you to completely restore a tooth and recreate its natural shape, rather than simply closing an existing defect. But for this, the dentist must have the appropriate skills to work with such material. High-quality photopolymer fillings cannot be cheap, because with their help you can achieve complete restoration of the aesthetics and function of the tooth. As a rule, such fillings do not fall out, but if this happens, you should think about the quality of the dentist’s work.

Installation of the seal is carried out in several stages:

• The dentist removes the affected tissue, leaving healthy dentin intact. To ensure that the procedure is painless and does not cause any discomfort to the patient, anesthesia can be used.
• The tooth cavity must be dried and treated with an acid-containing composition.
• After this, the doctor applies an adhesive system, which will act as a link between the filling and the tooth tissue. To quickly harden the material, use the light of an ultraviolet lamp.
• The photopolymer filling is applied in layers. This allows you to achieve the highest strength and the most natural shade. When installing a filling, it is necessary to completely prevent liquid from entering the tooth.
• The final stage is processing the filling in order to achieve the correct bite.

Good to know. High-quality tooth restoration will not be noticeable to others.

Composition and properties of impression mass and impression trays

To cast a thermoplastic prosthesis, you need to prepare a mold - a 3D model of the oral cavity with an exact shape. Previously, the quick-hardening material gypsum was used, and the removed form was called a cast. First, a standard or custom-made impression tray is selected that matches the structure of the jaw. The spoons are cast from the plastic chosen for prosthetics. A paste-like composition is laid out on the bed, the instrument is inserted into the cavity, and actions are performed to obtain an accurate cast of the defective area or the smallest outline and shape of the palate. The impression mass, when entering the mouth, should not cause a gag reflex, be plastic, and keep its shape. The compounds fall within the area of ​​auxiliary elastomers. Sodium alginate is a composition based on the swelling of fine powder; to retain its shape, the composition is cross-linked with slightly soluble mineral salts of barium, lead, and calcium. In the Russian Federation, the product is known under the brand name Stomalgin. Silicone elastomers are a mixture of base paste and catalyst. The composition hardens within 3-4 minutes. The polymer is used for the initial impression, individual trays and correctional processing, depending on the density of the paste. Polysulfide rubber , thiokol, trade name of the brand Tiodent. The composition dilutes well, hardens within 2 minutes, and holds its shape. However, such pastes do not last long and have an unpleasant odor. Polyester compositions of medium viscosity with silica as a filler and glycol ether phthalate as a plasticizer. Feature - the most accurate impression, retaining its dimensions for a month and the possibility of reuse.

Artificial plastic teeth

The main function of teeth, chewing, increases the demands on the material. In addition to the requirements listed for the prosthesis base, this component must be resistant to abrasion, match in shape and color, and be aesthetically pleasing. Thus, three-layer plastic teeth are covered with a cervical, dentin and enamel layer. The most important property is the wear resistance of the enamel composition, which is invented by the manufacturer and is a trade secret. It is made of composite polymer. Dens Nobils teeth are considered to be of high quality. The manufacturer offers 29 front and 18 lateral teeth of different types. The most popular acrylic teeth are those that create lateral and anterior acrylic teeth. The disadvantage is the low density of enamel, which wears off several times faster than on natural and porcelain teeth.

Protective lining of fixed dentures

Dental repair is often associated with the installation of fixed prostheses - bridges, crowns. The design uses natural teeth as supports. But they are dissected and the top protective layer is removed. Therefore, the hard tissues of damaged teeth need to be protected. To place a crown on a single tooth, acrylic plastic is used for seating. Teeth damaged by preparation are protected with ready-made caps. Transparent and flexible temporary crowns made of polycarbonate nylon are used. Creating a bridge requires molding to produce a precise impression. The resulting structure serves as a bridge between the supporting teeth. To protect the injection site, the polymer composition Provipont-DC is used:

• Dimethacrylate ternary composition in exact proportions.
• Silica.
• Zeolite as a catalyst and stabilizer.

The paste and catalyst are mixed and applied to the plate. Within 2 minutes, the coating is trimmed to form a surface. There are other kits that differ in the method of application and more convenient use.

Errors in working with photopolymers

When working with dental polymers, the following mistakes should not be made:

• insufficient treatment of the carious cavity;
• lack of contact point with the adjacent tooth;
• poor-quality fixation of the matrix, which results in the formation of an overhanging edge of the filling;
• breaking off the enamel edges of the carious cavity;
• formation of an enamel bevel on the occlusal surface during preparation;
• incorrect choice of therapeutic and insulating cushioning materials.

When working with photopolymer resins for 3D printers, the following mistakes are often made:

• the selected photopolymer does not match the wavelength of the emitter or its dosage is insufficient;
• the light-sensitive photopolymer is exposed to sunlight and the light of fluorescent mercury lamps, which leads to its thickening;
• The composition of photopolymer resins is incorrectly selected, as a result of which the finished models crack and break when removed.