The use of resin composite in posterior restorations is an accepted practice, offering a predictable and minimally invasive treatment. Resin composite can be regarded as the “material of choice” for restoring many posterior teeth that have been damaged by caries or trauma. This textbook reviews the most current concepts, presents techniques for successful results, and demonstrates how to avoid common pitfalls.

ISBN 978-1-85097-120-7

156 pp; 106 illus

Contents
1. Posterior Composites: The State of Play

2. Let’s Stick Together: How Do We “Bond” Composite Resin to Tooth

3. When Should We Place Posterior Composites?

4. Getting Ready: Cavities for Posterior Composites

5. Protecting Dentine and Pulp: Do We Really Need a Base?

6. Shedding Light on Placement Techniques for Posterior Composites

7. Getting Back in Touch: Restoring Proximal Contours

8. Almost There: Finishing Techniques

9. The Management of Failing Direct Composite Restorations: Replace or Repair?

10. Expanding Horizons: Advanced Uses of Posterior Composites

11. When Things Go Wrong: Trouble-shooting Posterior Composites

12. Don’t Always Believe What You Read in Books: A Critique of Posterior Composites

Foreword
The future of operative dentistry lies in prevention, risk assessment, minimally invasive techniques and the use of adhesively bonded, tooth-coloured restorative systems. An important aspect of the future of operative dentistry is the use of composite resins in the restoration of posterior teeth.

Composite resins for use in posterior teeth must never be thought of as a substitute for traditional materials; they are an alternative that offers a more modern, conservative approach to the restoration of damaged teeth, let alone being much more aesthetic than, in particular, dental amalgam. Furthermore, techniques for the use of composite resins suitable for the restoration of posterior teeth differ in important ways from the techniques for the successful use of composites in anterior teeth.

Successful Posterior Composites, one of the latest group of books to be published in the current highly acclaimed Quintessentials of Dental Practice series, provides students and practitioners of all levels of experience with a highly practical approach, based on best-available evidence, to the selection and application of composite resins in the restoration of posterior teeth.

Importantly, this book recognizes that posterior composites are challenging, with consistent success requiring a good knowledge and understanding of the “where, when and how” of both the initial placement and post-treatment care of posterior composites in clinical service. All this and more is covered in this eminently readable, high-quality addition to the Quintessentials series.

Whatever your experience with posterior composites, this volume will expand and, it is hoped, reinforce elements of this important aspect of your clinical practice.

Mindful of the effective use of time required by busy practitioners and students, the author of this volume has gone to great lengths to produce a book that, in the spirit of the Quintessentials series, can be assimilated, with possible practice-changing effects, in a matter of a few hours—a great achievement in a subject area that is at the forefront of modern operative dentistry. For around the cost of one posterior composite, depending on size, type and complexity, this book is excellent value for money, let alone a great investment in keeping pace with the emerging future of operative dentistry.

Preface
Of the many advances in the practice of dentistry, perhaps the most revolutionary has been the development of predictable adhesive techniques. One of these techniques is the placement of composite resin as an alternative to dental amalgam in load-bearing cavities in premolar and molar teeth. As a consequence, minimally interventional dental techniques for the management of caries in posterior teeth are a reality; for example, there is no longer a requirement to remove excessive amounts of intact tooth tissue to provide retention for “non-adhesive” materials such as dental amalgam.

Confusion has arisen regarding the most suitable techniques to use when restoring posterior teeth with composite resin. This has been a reflection, in part, of the ever-increasing range of commercial products available for placing posterior composites, a lack of consensus and educational guidance on the suitability of many materials and techniques, and a varied experience of success (and failure!) by dental practitioners in the us of composite resin in posterior load-bearing cavities. Failures associated with posterior composite resins, coupled with inappropriate use, handling and placement techniques.

The aim of this book is to give clear guidance to general practitioners on how to approach the restoration of posterior load-bearing cavities with composite resin. This guidance is based on current best available evidence. Above all, this book is intended as a guide for busy general dental practitioners, who may be able to browse a section during a break in a busy day in clinical practice. The structure of this book will allow the busy practitioner to read individual chapters as “stand-alone” sections.

Posterior composites are now an established feature of contemporary restorative dentistry, and are “here to stay.” It is my sincere hope that all those reading this book will find it helpful and informative, and that they will come to enjoy placing successful posterior composites as much as I do.

© 2008