Alternatives for the restoration of posterior teeth

Many restorations are available for posterior teeth. However, they have significantly different costs, physical characteristics and longevity. Selection of the type of restoration for specific situations has been highly individual and related to the dentist's abilities and the patient's preferences. A strong current emphasis towards optimum aesthetics has confused the situation further by substituting relatively unknown aesthetic materials for those of known clinical characteristics and longevity. The purpose of this paper is to indicate the known and unknown characteristics of currently available posterior tooth restorations and to make suggestions concerning the future.