Direct placement restorative materials for use in posterior teeth: the current options.
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines to assist in the selection of dental materials for restoring posterior teeth in adolescents. Currently, amalgam is still the best plastic restorative material for some Class I cavities, and for Class II cavities and all multi-surface restorations. Tooth-coloured materials are preferred by some patients and dentists, however these alternatives are more technique sensitive than amalgam. Composite resin is the most common direct placement alternative to dental amalgam, providing patients with relatively low cost, tooth-coloured restorations. However, composite resins have limited indication, their placement is more time-consuming than for amalgam, cost-benefit considerations are a concern, difficulty in obtaining a marginal seal persists and there are few long-term studies published in the peer reviewed scientific literature. The literature currently supports the use of composite resin for the restoration of a limited range of Class I and Class II cavities. Composite resin restorations are not recommended for MOD or other multi-surface restorations. In selected clinical situations, fissure sealants, preventive resin restorations and glass ionomer cement are also appropriate materials to use to restore posterior teeth. Fissure sealants, when properly maintained, can play a significant role in the prevention and control of dental caries in pits and fissures in primary and permanent teeth. Preventive resin restorations should be placed to restore deep pits and fissures with incipient caries and/or developmental defects in primary and permanent teeth. Glass ionomer cement may be used for restoring Class V cavities where appearance is not the primary concern, for conservative Class III cavities, and as a provisional restorative material. It is not recommended for Class II or IV restorations.