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Inside Dentistry
April 2016
Volume 12, Issue 4

Layering Composites Efficiently and Effectively

Incorporating bulk-fill into your practice

Lori Trost, DMD

The most common restorative procedure today is the placement of a direct resin-based composite.1 When cavity forms are large, a traditional incremental layering technique can be time consuming and may yield an unpredictable final restorative result.

To ensure success, composite placement requires the understanding of current materials, the manner in which they can be used, and the translation of their benefits into a consistent technique. Some factors to consider are preparation depth, remaining substrate, adhesion detail, light-curing requirements, and contact re-establishment.2 Each of these components has a great influence on the final restorative outcome and should not be underestimated.

According to the American Dental Asso­ciation, the most common causes for postoperative sensitivity after placing composite resins are polymerization shrinkage and stress, incomplete material coverage, and under-curing.3 In addition to postoperative sensitivity, composite shrinkage stresses can lead to marginal staining, debonding, micro-leakage, secondary caries, and micro-fractures/cracks.3 To offset shrinkage stresses, a newer category of bulk-fill flowable composites is available to clinicians that feature ease-of-use, excellent adaptation to internal cavity geometry, and the ability to place material in up to 4 mm increments. Although different from conventional flowable composites, bulk-fill composites can also be inferior in physical properties compared to hybrid universal composites (eg, resistance to occlusal wear). For this reason, it is often recommended to place a 2-mm occlusal cap with a universal composite over the bulk-fill flowable.

One of the most challenging aspects of any restoration is delivering enough energy to light cure resin composite in deep preparations.4 All curing lights experience an energy drop-off that decreases the amount of energy delivered to the restoration over distance, and the amount of energy lost varies among curing lights.5 In one study, a 50% reduction of irradiance was reported at a 6 mm distance from the light guide.6 If the average clinical crown height of posterior teeth is 6 mm, clinicians may be faced with curing composite resins in deep preparations a significant distance from the curing light tip.7 Clinicians should remember the following basic principles ensure adequate light curing of composite material: deep composite resin restorations demand a high-quality curing light, good operator technique, the ability to direct the light into the preparation, and sufficient curing time for the individual type and shade of material.8

Case Presentation

Preparation

A patient presented with decay on the distal aspect of tooth No. 30 that necessitated a direct composite restoration. The patient was administered a 2% lidocaine solution containing 1:100,000 concentration of epinephrine to achieve an inferior alveolar nerve block. Once comfortable, a 330 carbide bur was used to prepare the distal-occlusal surfaces of the tooth. Decay was removed using a round No. 4 bur and confirmed by the use of a caries indicating solution (Figure 1). The preparation was isolated with the Palodent® Plus Sectional Matrix System (DENTSPLY, www.dentsply.com) by using the subgingival molar matrix band, universal ring, and wedge. In place of a rubber dam, proper suctioning and use of a cotton roll prevented salivary contamination to help achieve an optimal clinical result. A 2% chlorhexidine solution, acting as a disinfectant, was blotted into the preparation and then lightly suctioned.

Adhesion

A selective-etch technique was utilized by carefully applying a 35% phosphoric etch gel for 15 seconds on the surrounding enamel framing the preparation (Figure 2). The etchant gel was then thoroughly rinsed for 5 seconds, and lightly suctioned to allow the dentin to remain moist. A universal bonding agent, Prime & Bond Elect® Universal Dental Adhesive (DENTSPLY), was generously scrubbed onto all the internal preparation surfaces for 20 seconds, followed by a thin stream of air for approximately 2 to 3 seconds and then light curing for 10 seconds (Figure 3). Care was taken to make sure no ripples were present before light curing and the freshly bonded surfaces yielded a semi-glossy appearance.

Next, a periodontal probe was used to identify the depth of the proximal box floor. The gingival box floor measured 3 mm from the pulpal floor. A bulk-fill material was selected as the initial flowable base. SureFil® SDR® flow Posterior Bulk Fill Flowable Base (DENTSPLY) was delivered to the base of the gingival box and dispensed, completely covering the margins of the box and then filled to cover approximately 1 mm of the pulpal floor—all without manipulation (Figure 4). The advantage of this bulk-fill material is to provide excellent adaptation and serve as an understory for a final 2-mm composite capping layer. The material was light cured for 20 seconds using a SmartLite LED Pen-Style® Focus® Curing Light (DENTSPLY) (Figure 5). A final capping increment of 2 mm was placed using a universal composite, TPH Spectra® Universal Composite LV, shade B1 (DENTSPLY). The composite was sculpted and light cured for 20 seconds. Care was taken to re-establish the anatomy as close to the original tooth surface as well as rounding the distal marginal ridge for improved contact support and cleansibility.

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