Considerations for the successful placement of laboratory-processed, indirect composite restorations

Adhesive bonding techniques enable clinicians to predictably place tooth-colored materials and thus provide viable alternatives to amalgam and other metal-based restorations. This is significant because patient demand for esthetic restorations is greater than ever before. Options for tooth-colored restorations include ceramics and direct and indirect composite-based materials. However, successful treatment using this restorative modality depends on a number of factors. This article reviews the case selection, preparation design, and material selection as they relate to indirect composite inlays and onlays.