[Low viscosity composites as materials for orthodontic bonding]

A new type of composite materials, referred to as low viscosity composites, has been introduced onto the dental market. Little has been published yet concerning the biological and mechanical properties of these new materials, and the practitioner has to rely on the information, provided by the manufacturer. The low viscosity composites are hybrid composites, with a decreased amount of filler particles. This results in a lower viscosity, which makes these materials more appropriate in certain situations. Since the filler loading of these materials is decreased, one could expect inferior mechanical properties, compared to the conventional and hybrid composites. Therefore, the indications for using low viscosity composites are limited. In this article we propose to use low viscosity composites for the bonding of lingual retainers and implant-borne transpalatal arches. The explicit feature of flow, is very attractive for these indications, because a minimum of finishing is needed, when a low viscosity composite is used in these situations. Since there is no direct occlusal bite force put on the composite, the fact that the mechanical properties of a low viscosity composite could be inferior to those of a conventional composite, can be disregarded. A protocol for fixing lingual retainers and implant-borne transpalatal arches is proposed in the article, with other tips, concerning the fabrication of the retainers themselves.