The popularity of tooth colored restorative materials has led to rapid increase in the use of resins, but the placement of a successful and long lasting resin composite restoration go through many steps.
It is easy for a dentist to put the blame for a failed restoration on the manufacturer of the material, but actually we are faced with many challenges related to the material itself, the patient or even to the operator.
Although there are tremendous improvement in both physical and mechanical characteristics, and chemical formula of resin composites, many factors still play a major concern in the success of the restoration; proper case selection, isolation, cavity preparation, material placement, material activation, finishing and polishing. Clinical failure of resin restorations may be attributed to polymerization shrinkage, contraction stresses, water sorption, solubility, discoloration, marginal failures, secondary caries, fracture of restorations and postoperative sensitivity.
Our lecture is meant to be useful in shedding the light on the way to long lasting restoration.