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7.5.4 Relevant Product segments and applications

There is still a need for cheaper and more effective solutions within the dental restorative market segment.

In dentistry, composites consisting of inorganic fillers such as radiopaque glass, quartz or ceramic particles and an organic matrix, are used for the restoration of teeth.

The purpose of dental fillers or dental restoratives is to cover all aesthetic and practical demands in restoring natural tooth colour. The developmental goal is to provide an easy shading system for advanced aesthetic solutions as well as for fast restorations on a primary level.

In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the development of aesthetic materials made of ceramic and plastic. These mimic the appearance of natural teeth and are more aesthetically pleasing where they are visible. But the strength and durability of traditional materials still make them useful, particularly in the back of the mouth where they must withstand the extreme forces that result from chewing.

Important properties of the dental restorative materials can be improved by means of nanotechnology. Moreover, well designed nanostructured components can be used for producing protective and wear-resistant coatings for teeth, metal alloys, and glass fillers of special compositions.