Bulk-Fill Resins versus Conventional Resins: An Umbrella Review

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Composite resins are standard for posterior teeth restoration.
• Bulk-fill resins offer simplified, faster clinical application.
• Dentists express reluctance towards using bulk-fill resins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical performance of bulk-fill and conventional resins in direct posterior restorations.
• To synthesize existing literature on the efficacy of these restorative materials.

Main Methods:

• An umbrella literature review adhering to PRISMA standards.
• Searches conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (WOS).
• Study quality assessed using the AMSTAR 2 tool, with reviews rated as low to moderate.

Main Results:

• Overall meta-analysis favored conventional resin, indicating a five-fold higher likelihood of favorable results compared to bulk-fill resin, though not statistically significant.
• Bulk-fill resins offer a clear advantage in simplifying the clinical procedure for posterior direct restorations.
• Key material properties demonstrated similar performance between bulk-fill and conventional resins.

Conclusions:

• While bulk-fill resins simplify procedures, conventional resins may offer a higher probability of favorable clinical outcomes.
• Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the long-term performance differences and clinical benefits.
• The choice between bulk-fill and conventional resins involves balancing procedural simplicity with potential outcome predictability.