Choosing the right restorative material
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 11th June 2023
Effectively repairing damaged teeth is crucial for restoring a healthy, functional, and aesthetic smile. Whether the tooth requires an inlay, onlay, crown, or even a veneer, dental professionals should aim to provide patients with a natural looking, aesthetic and durable result. Restorative solutions should always be appropriate for the individual case, and should be as minimally invasive as possible, to preserve the maximum amount of natural tooth tissue.[i] To achieve all of this, it is important that clinicians select the restorative material carefully, taking into account the needs of the patient, as well as any functional and aesthetic requirements.
The benefits of dental crowns
If a patient has undergone endodontic treatment or removal of caries, for example, it is likely that their tooth will have suffered structural damage, and damage to the enamel. Damaged teeth are often sensitive to temperature and pressure, and the remaining dental tissue should be protected against any further harm. A dental crown is designed to do this, while also reducing sensitivity.[ii] It is important to establish whether a crown is appropriate in each case by assessing the extent of the tooth loss, as some additional tissue may need to be removed to prepare the tooth for crown placement.[iii]
Dental crowns should be made to fit the individual anatomies of each patient, and the material should be strong, durable, and match the characteristics of the natural teeth in as many ways as possible. Not only should dental crowns aim to restore the function of the teeth, but they should also provide an aesthetic result, correcting discolouration or 
irregularities, while retaining a natural looking outcome.[iv]
Choosing the right material
When providing dental crowns, it is vital that the correct material is selected in each case – offering durable and aesthetic results. There are a number of options available for creating crowns, and with the increased use of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in dentistry, the ability to produce high-quality, customised, precise solutions is becoming more accessible.[v]
Crowns made using ceramic materials, for example, can last for many years, however, they present a number of disadvantages. They are less durable than other materials, more likely to crack or break, and this can affect their longevity and durability. If a ceramic crown does break, repairs can be very challenging, and in some cases, it may be favourable to replace the restoration instead.[vi] They are also likely to cause wear to opposing teeth, as the wear properties of ceramic differ to natural hard tissues.[vii] Additionally, ceramic crowns milled using CAD/CAM produce a less natural result than other crown types.[viii]
Similarly, while zirconia has a number of advantages, such as strength and longevity, it can also present a number of challenges when used to create dental crowns. Zirconia crowns have an opaque appearance, making it difficult to create a natural-looking finish, which is especially important for many patients today who are focussed on achieving
aesthetic results. It is also a very hard material; this brings with it the benefits of durability, but could also risk wear and tear to the enamel of opposing teeth.[ix]
The benefits of composite crowns
Composite crowns are a versatile alternative to these material types. Composite restorative material has a flexural modulus similar to that of hard dental tissues. This means that the restoration is able to resist masticatory forces in the same way as a natural tooth and redistribute stress evenly.[x] Composite material types are also easier to match to the colour of the natural teeth, and offer excellent polishability. This means that, when manufactured using CAD/CAM, composite produces an aesthetic result.[xi] Composite restorations are also straightforward to repair when compared to other material types, helping the restoration to last longer.
From COLTENE, BRILLIANT Crios combines all the advantages of an innovative submicron hybrid composite material with those of a CAD/CAM fabrication process for
reliable, aesthetic and fast restorations. The reinforced composite material is strong, offering a biaxial flexural strength, and offers a shock absorbing effect thanks to its dentine-like modulus of elasticity. Plus, the material is easy to repair using BRILLIANT EverGlow™ to protect the longevity of the restoration, and ONE COAT 7 UNIVERSAL is matched perfectly to BRILLIANT Crios, for reliable adhesion.
For an effective restoration, it is important that treatment is customised to the specific clinical needs of each patient. Restorations should be as minimally invasive as possible, aiming to preserve the natural structure of the tooth. To ensure the longevity of dental restorations, choosing the right restorative material in each case is crucial. Consider materials which closely mimic the properties of the natural dentition, and respect the opposing teeth.
For more on COLTENE, visit www.coltene.com,
email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.
Nicolas Coomber
COLTENE National Account & Marketing Manager.
[i] Malterud, Mark I. “Minimally invasive restorative dentistry: a biomimetic approach.” Practical Procedures and Aesthetic Dentistry 18.7 (2006): 409. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/41724248/Minimally_invasive_restorative_dentistry20160129-13875-chaq78-libre.pdf?1454069597=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DMinimally_invasive_restorative_dentistry.pdf&Expires=1679334462&Signature=esus3~rnpKKm2ktDoMSfkGAG7~SKRWuvSFTW993hvPMQ0bhwaF1vcoy4CYYsycw8gyFaBSOC2L~hUQi-OZFXSnGDvXiKXyHCq3lt3oraZ3EU8pfJ3MuBX2LkjPmP-zzrfmiWeBtclDc~pnOtBAvy-O6GpvYVhdsEDjieyqH7hjiLYPOoESH-7ndhUDJrQHRElNkTo81GT1l~Y1fZDEzDx3nZ~RoTzoO2lS4eS6QPsSH78waG7XBcNamtf24qmbVIDM-O4iRu2byNbDvkb4DBq8czSudrCuBbCBIbvfrRtBXv5GMmF6BjT2sAPh2S5VevHVlljuFdhIFF0s1lD3-ZjA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
[ii] Proud Smiles. Benefits of dental crowns. Accessed March 23. https://www.proudsmiles.com/2020/03/5-benefits-of-dental-crowns/
[iii] Healthline. Veneers vs. Crowns: What’s the Difference and Which One Is Right for You? Accessed March 23. https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/veneers-vs-crowns
[iv] Proud Smiles. Benefits of dental crowns. Accessed March 23. https://www.proudsmiles.com/2020/03/5-benefits-of-dental-crowns/
[v] Iliev, Georgi, et al. “3D printed, and CAD/CAM milled indirect.” https://medinform.bg/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Medinform-191.pdf
[vi] BonFate Dental Lab. Disadvantages of all-ceramic dental crowns. Accessed March 23. https://www.bonifatedental.com/uncategorized/disadvantages-ceramic-dental-crowns/
[vii] Hmaidouch, Rim, and Paul Weigl. “Tooth wear against ceramic crowns in posterior region: a systematic literature review.” International journal of oral science 5.4 (2013): 183-190. https://www.nature.com/articles/ijos201373
[viii] BonFate Dental Lab. Disadvantages of all-ceramic dental crowns. Accessed March 23. https://www.bonifatedental.com/uncategorized/disadvantages-ceramic-dental-crowns/
[ix] Healthline. What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns Made from Zirconia. Accessed March 23. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-you-need-to-know-about-dental-crowns-made-from-zirconia
[x] Iliev, Georgi, et al. “3D printed, and CAD/CAM milled indirect.” https://medinform.bg/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Medinform-191.pdf
[xi] Advanced Dental. A comparison of dental crown materials. Accessed March 23. https://advanceddentalofnewwindsor.com/blog/dental-crown-materials/
