[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Dentistry](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/) › Restorative dentistry and materials

# Restorative dentistry and materials

Minimal intervention, cavity preparation, amalgam, resin composite, bonding, glass ionomer, pulp protection, cements, impression materials, ceramics, why fillings fail, dentine sensitivity, whitening and allergy to materials.

15 pages

## Topic

- [**Biocompatibility and allergy to dental materials** True allergy to dental materials is uncommon in patients but common in dental staff, who handle…](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/biocompatibility-and-allergy-to-dental-materials/)
- [**Minimal intervention: when to drill and when not** Not every cavity needs a filling](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/minimal-intervention-when-to-drill-and-when-not/)
- [**Why fillings fail: secondary caries, fracture and leakage** Most fillings fail because new decay starts at their edge or because the filling or tooth breaks](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/why-fillings-fail-secondary-caries-fracture-and-leakage/)

## Dental material

- [**Bonding to enamel and dentine: etching and adhesives** Acid roughens enamel so resin can lock into it](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/bonding-to-enamel-and-dentine-etching-and-adhesives/)
- [**Dental amalgam: mercury, safety and the phase-down** Amalgam is a strong, cheap silver filling made with mercury](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/dental-amalgam-mercury-safety-and-the-phase-down/)
- [**Dental ceramics and zirconia** Ceramics give crowns a natural look](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/dental-ceramics-and-zirconia/)
- [**Glass ionomer cements** Glass ionomer sticks to the tooth by itself and releases fluoride](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/glass-ionomer-cements/)
- [**Gypsum, waxes and dental alloys** Models are poured in gypsum, restorations are shaped in wax, and many crowns and denture…](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/gypsum-waxes-and-dental-alloys/)
- [**Impression materials: alginate, silicones and polyether** An impression is a mould of the teeth and gums](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/impression-materials-alginate-silicones-and-polyether/)
- [**Liners, bases and protecting the pulp** A deep cavity may get a thin layer over the dentine nearest the pulp](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/liners-bases-and-protecting-the-pulp/)
- [**Luting cements for crowns and bridges** Luting cements fill the thin gap between a crown and the tooth and help hold it](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/luting-cements-for-crowns-and-bridges/)
- [**Resin composite and light curing** Composite is the tooth-coloured filling: a plastic resin full of glass particles, bonded to the…](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/resin-composite-and-light-curing/)

## Procedure

- [**Cavity classes and preparation principles** Black's classes name a cavity by where it sits on the tooth](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/cavity-classes-and-preparation-principles/)
- [**Tooth discoloration and whitening** Teeth stain on the surface (coffee, tobacco) or from within (drugs, fluoride, trauma)](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/tooth-discoloration-and-whitening/)

## Oral pathology

- [**Dentine hypersensitivity** Short, sharp pain from cold, air, sweet or touch on exposed dentine](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/dentine-hypersensitivity/)

## A to Z

- [A](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/a/)
- [B](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/b/)
- [C](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/c/)
- [D](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/d/)
- [E](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/e/)
- [F](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/f/)
- [G](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/g/)
- [H](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/h/)
- [I](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/i/)
- [J](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/j/)
- [K](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/k/)
- [L](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/l/)
- [M](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/m/)
- [N](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/n/)
- [O](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/o/)
- [P](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/p/)
- [R](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/r/)
- [S](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/s/)
- [T](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/t/)
- [V](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/v/)
- [W](https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/a-z/w/)

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Educational content; it does not replace assessment by a dentist or doctor and is not a clinical instruction. For facial or neck swelling with difficulty swallowing or breathing, a knocked-out tooth or bleeding that will not stop, go to an emergency department at once.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/areas/restorative/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/dentistry/areas/restorative/