3. Compositions of dental composites

3.1 Resin

In small proportion compared to mineral fillers, this essential component causes degradation of some mechanical properties of the composite (resistance to wear for example). It is also the source of polymerization induced shrinkage and the stresses it generates. In the most commonly used photopolymerizable dental composites, the resinous matrix is obtained by polymerization of dimethacrylate monomers. The presence of two polymerizable functions borne by the same molecule makes it possible to generate an organic network with a high crosslinking density.