Improving cervical restorations: a review of materials and techniques

There is a great variety of cervical lesions and an increased need for treatment because patients complain either about esthetics, hypersensitivity, or even food impaction. The cumulative effects of noncarious dental tissue loss are increasingly evident within any population. The prevalence of these noncarious lesions has been estimated at between 31% and 56%, with 85% of the population showing some loss of tooth structure in the cervical area. Since more elderly patients will keep their teeth for a longer time, the problems regarding the cervical areas of the teeth will increase. Therefore, the challenge for the dentist is rather substantial, since it has been shown that the longevity of these cervical restorations is not as great as that of other restorations. The purpose of this review is to summarize some facts about cervical lesions, the different tooth-colored restorative materials and their application, and the assessment of the clinical performance of these materials.