Journal of Dental Research, Vol 58, 1551-1557, Copyright © 1979 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Clinical placement and performance of composite resin restorations
N. W. Rupp
The most frequent complaints registered against composite restorations are
stained margins and a rough surface. The stained margins have many causes
such as (1) fracturing or crazing of enamel during preparation of the
cavity, (2) using a composite having an excessive curing shrinkage, (3)
manipulating too slowly, which permits a loss of plasticity during
placement, (4) maintaining inadequate pressure during setting or curing of
the composite, and (5) using finishing instruments which cause defects in
the margin area of the tooth and/or composite. All of these the operator
can control, and if not, the defect will be built into the restoration. The
roughness of composites can be reduced by polishing with the finest grit
available in disks and by coating with a glaze. Today's composite
restorations placed with care will provide long lasting esthetic
restorations providing they are not placed in areas subjected to load
bearing abrasion.
