Direct-Indirect Class V Restorations: A Novel Approach for Treating Noncarious Cervical Lesions

Noncarious cervical lesions are highly prevalent and may have different etiologies. Regardless of their origin, be it acid erosion, abrasion, or abfraction, restoring these lesions can pose clinical challenges, including access to the lesion, field control, material placement and handling, marginal finishing, patient discomfort, and chair time. This paper describes a novel technique for minimizing these challenges and optimizing the restoration of noncarious cervical lesions using a technique the author describes as the class V direct-indirect restoration. With this technique, clinicians can create precise extraoral margin finishing and polishing, while maintaining periodontal health and controlling polymerization shrinkage stress.

The clinical technique described in this article has the potential for being used routinely in treating noncarious cervical lesions, especially in cases without easy access and limited field control. Precise margin finishing and polishing is one of the greatest benefits of the class V direct-indirect approach, as the author has seen it work successfully in his practice over the past five years.