[Clinical evaluation of low viscosity composite resin]

This study was to evaluate clinically low viscosity composite resin. The subjects of the present study were 121 children aged 2 to 10 years who visited the Pedodontic clinic of Tohoku University Dental Hospital and 53 children aged 2 to 8 years who visited the clinic of the general practitioners in Sendai. A total of 451 cavities (343 at the clinic of the University Hospital, 108 at the clinic of the general practitioners) were treated with Clearfil SC-II (Kuraray). The observation period varied from 1 month to 33 months after treatment. The restorations were examined with regard to spacing or stepped abrasion in the marginal region of the fillings, fracture, loss, attrition and discoloration of the fillings, and recurrent caries and/or pulpal involvement of the treated teeth. The following findings were obtained. 1) The restoration cases treated at the clinic of the University Hospital were evaluated as clinically acceptable in 254 cases (74.1%), while those treated at the clinic of the general practitioners in 76 cases (70.4%). 2) Of the 343 restorations treated at the clinic of the University Hospital, 73 (21.3%) exhibited poor restorative conditions, while of the 108 restorations treated at the clinic of the general practitioners, 15 (13.9%) showed such conditions. 3) The incidences of poor restorative conditions for anterior restorations were 39.7% and 8.3% respectively at the clinics of the University Hospital and general practitioners. 4) The incidences of poor restorative conditions for posterior restoration were 16.9% and 17.7% respectively at the clinics of the University Hospital and general practitioners. 5) Among the poor restorative conditions, the spacing or stepped abrasion and recurrent caries in the marginal region of the restorations occurred more frequently. 6) The incidences of spacing or stepped abrasion and recurrent caries in the marginal region of the restorations increased in the cases of class II and III cavities.