What Matters about the Color of Composite Restorations?
Esthetic Dentistry has seen considerable improvements in its techniques and materials, leading to significant changes in the use of dental ceramics and composite resins. The ability to match color in dental restorations is vital for a successful outcome, and it depends on both the selection of materials and the technique applied. Often, Dentistry has placed a focus on selecting hue/chroma as the primary factor influencing the esthetic result of composite restorations.
The practice of layering resins of different translucencies and opacities, in order to recreate the natural aspects of teeth, has impacted the management of color. This approach relies on the correct selection and sequencing of composites, as well as the thickness of each layer used. The outcome is also influenced by different brands using fillers of various sizes and shapes.
This lecture will delve into composite layering techniques from a clinical perspective, discussing how these may diverge from the scientific data. The objectives of the lecture are:
- To differentiate how different layers and application techniques could affect the esthetic outcome;
- To visualize how thickness in the enamel could decrease the importance of hue/chroma in composite restorations from a clinical view;
- To understand differences in composite behavior in anterior and posterior composite restorations.
Dr. Ronaldo Hirata completed his four-year DDS course in Curitiba, Brazil, at the Federal University of Parana (UFPR) in 1995. He then undertook a two-year Operative Dentistry Specialty program at the same university. Following his studies, he began lecturing at UFPR and launched his career as an international lecturer with a focus on Esthetic Dentistry, a role that has since taken him to over 40 countries. Throughout his career, his private practice in Esthetic Dentistry has always been based in Curitiba.
Seeking to deepen his scientific knowledge, Dr. Hirata pursued a Master's degree in Dental Materials from 2000 to 2003 at the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), where he completed a research thesis on improving the mechanical properties of composites using glass and polyethylene fibers. From 2005 to 2009, he pursued his Ph.D. in Restorative Dentistry at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), where his research focused on the Transmittance, Reflectance, and Fluorescence of composite resins.
In 2012, he completed his post-doctorate at New York University (NYU), working on the application of Plasma on dentin surfaces and analysis of bonding strength. Dr. Hirata is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomaterials at NYU, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Cariology.
Dr. Hirata is a prolific writer, having published more than 100 papers in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. His first book, "TIPS", was published in three languages, as was his second book, "SHORTCUTS". He has recently released his new book, "Recipes for composite restorations", through Quintessence Publishing, also in three languages, including English. This textbook offers "recipes" for dental restorations, specifying the necessary ingredients and instruments for executing 26 different restorations.
