The chemistry underpinning modern tooth-colored dental fillings is described. Two broad groups of material are covered, the so-called composite resins and the glass-ionomer cements. Composite resins consist of bulky difunctional monomers together with high loadings of powdered inorganic fillers, and they set by addition polymerization. Glass-ionomers consist of aqueous polymeric acids, such as polyacrylic acid, plus basic glass powders. They set by a neutralization reaction, but leave a substantial amount of the glass unreacted, to act as reinforcing filler. Various attempts have been made to combine the attractive properties of these materials, and the different types of hybrids of them are described. The importance of chemistry to this important branch of health care is emphasized.
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