title: Composite resin in medicine and dentistry.
abstract: Composite resin has been used for nearly 50 years as a restorative material in dentistry. Use of this material has recently increased as a result of consumer demands for esthetic restorations, coupled with the public's concern with mercury-containing dental amalgam. Composite is now used in over 95% of all anterior teeth direct restorations and in 50% of all posterior teeth direct restorations. Carbon fiber reinforced composites have been developed for use as dental implants. In medicine, fiber-reinforced composites have been used in orthopedics as implants, osseous screws, and bearing surfaces. In addition, hydroxyapatite composite resin has become a promising alternative to acrylic cement in stabilizing fractures and cancellous screw fixation in elderly and osteoporotic patients. The use of composite resin in dentistry and medicine will be the focus of this review, with particular attention paid to its physical properties, chemical composition, clinical applications, and biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Lexington, Kentucky 40504, USA. pam.stein@uky.edu
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Haubenreich
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Osborne
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials