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Direct resin composite restorations in decayed molars: a scoping review
Marcia Belleflamme1, Sandrina Vandenput2, Audrey Guéders1
1Department of fixed prosthetics and restorative dentistry, University of Liège Hospital (CHU), School of Dental Medicine, Liège, Belgium; Dental Biomaterials Research Unit (d-BRU), Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium.
Direct resin composites are reliable for restoring decayed molars with Class II cavities, showing excellent long-term success rates. Further research is needed for more complex cases involving missing cusps.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Restorative Dentistry
- Clinical Research Methodology
Background:
- Class II cavities in molars are common dental restorations.
- Direct resin composites are widely used for tooth reconstruction.
- Assessing the long-term efficacy of these materials is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize and discuss the literature on direct resin composites for minimal Class II cavities in molars.
- To evaluate the reliability and success rates of these restorations.
- To identify areas for future clinical research.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Literature search across MEDLINE (PubMed), SCOPUS, and EMBASE databases.
- Inclusion of prospective clinical studies on adult molars with Class II cavities, with 23 studies ultimately analyzed.
Main Results:
- Direct resin composites demonstrate reliability for restoring decayed molars with Class II cavities.
- Excellent long-term success rates were observed, even after several years.
- Current evidence supports their use in less complex cases.
Conclusions:
- Direct resin composites are effective and reliable for restoring decayed molars with Class II cavities.
- High success rates indicate their suitability for long-term clinical application.
- Further studies are recommended for severely decayed molars with missing cusps to assess effectiveness in complex scenarios.
