Bulk dentine replacement versus incrementally placed resin composite: A randomised controlled clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Clinical Dentistry
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Dental caries restoration is a common procedure.
• Patient comfort following restoration is a key outcome measure.
• Different placement techniques for composite materials may impact patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient comfort between bulk dentine replacement and incremental placement of hybrid posterior resin composite for carious teeth.
• To evaluate postoperative sensitivity and tenderness on biting at various time points.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled clinical trial involving 72 carious teeth.
• Teeth were randomized into two groups: bulk dentine replacement (Group A) or incremental placement of hybrid composite (Group B).
• Patient-reported outcomes (sensitivity, tenderness) were assessed via phone at days 2, 7, 14, and 30.

Main Results:

• At day 2, Group A reported significantly higher postoperative sensitivity (P=0.029).
• At day 7, no statistically significant difference in sensitivity (P=0.453) or tenderness on biting (P=0.722) was observed between groups.
• Class I cavities showed more tenderness on biting than Class II cavities.

Conclusions:

• Both bulk dentine replacement and incremental placement of hybrid composite result in comparable patient comfort at seven days post-restoration.
• While initial sensitivity may favor incremental placement, long-term comfort is similar.
• Further research could explore cavity classification impact on tenderness.