Three-year clinical evaluation of a self-cured posterior composite resin

A study was conducted to determine whether the wear resistance of a posterior composite could be improved by maximizing filler particle-to-particle contacts. This was expected to reduce stress concentrations on the resin matrix and thus reduce occlusal wear. A self-curing quartz-filled composite with this design, P-10, was used to restore 90 Class I and II cavity preparations in adult teeth. Restorations were recalled after baseline at six months, one year, two years, and three years to measure wear by direct and indirect evaluation methods. There was no apparent advantage for this material compared with other previously evaluated posterior composites. The average cumulative wear for P-10 after three years was 145 microns. In addition, the restorations were evaluated for color-matching, interfacial staining, secondary caries, marginal adaptation, surface texture, and postoperative sensitivity. This material was not significantly different in those ways from other posterior composite products except in terms of more rapid color change, because it is self-cured.