To fillings and beyond!

Selecting the most appropriate design and suitable material to restore a tooth is not always straight forward. This presentation will look at the options for direct restorations, inlays and onlays and the factors that should be considered.

The topics covered include:

Part 1

• A historical overview of the development of posterior dental restorative materials including gold;
• Limitations of each material including amalgam;
• Cavity design with particular reference to the point at which an inlay is more appropriate than a restoration;
• Sandwich technique v bulk fill: When and how;
• Wet bonding/total etch v self-etch;
• When cusps should be overlaid;
• Material choices for onlays - indirect composite, gold or pressed ceramic or milled ceramic materials; and
• Use of pressed ceramic to avoid the provision of a posts following root canal therapy

Part 2

• Gold v e.max – the differences and similarities;
• Conventional PFM’s v metal free monolithic crowns;
• Whether or not to use e.max, Procera, zirconia or translucent zirconia in the aesthetic zone;
• Materials of choice for bruxists;
• Composite crowns - are they a viable long-term material;
• Conventional impressions v scanning - Cast v 3D printed models; and
• Temporisation.

On completion you will have a better understanding of being able to choose what design and material best suits a given situation and how to achieve predicable outcomes.