Clinical criteria

Criteria for the evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of dental materials have been available for many years. However, the final decision about the acceptability of a dental restorative material for use in the mouth can only come from clinical observation. This paper attempts to set out a systematic approach to the clinical assessment of restorative materials by posing a series of questions, to each of which an answer Yes or No can be given. The system makes provision for reaching decisions on marginal adaptation, restoration and preservation of anatomic form, protection against recurrence caries, and in the case of materials used in anterior restorations, colour match and cavo surface margin discoloration. Using these criteria, restorations can be classified into four categories: those within a range of excellence, those which although showing minor deviations from the ideal are nevertheless acceptable, those which should be replaced for preventive reasons to avoid the likelihood of future damage and those which require immediate replacement.