Anterior restorations in the adolescent patient

During the 30 years that have elapsed since the original report by Buonocore (1955), which demonstrated the increased retention of acrylic resins to an acid-etched enamel surface, the development of composite restorative materials in particular has enabled the clinician to offer a wider range of treatment alternatives to patients who present initially with problems directly related to their anterior teeth. Whilst the problem may be immediately apparent when the teeth erupt, professional advice is most often sought during adolescence. The provision of crowns for patients in this age group is contraindicated for many reasons, including compliance with extensive restorative procedures, large pulp cavities with the possibility of traumatic exposure during tooth preparation and inadequate crown height associated with an immature gingival margin.