Composite and fiber reinforcement, guideline for restorations in the posterior region

In the past years there has been remarkable development in adhesive dentistry and related restorative techniques. Whether modern adhesive aesthetic restorations are able to reinforce the restored tooth remains a question.

The aim of modern restorative treatments is to reinforce the dental structure to a degree that meets the level of healthy unrestored teeth. In order to reach this goal one must understand the biomechanical features of a natural tooth and the composing tissues. According to biomimetic dentistry the missing hard dental tissues should be substituted with restorative materials best mimicking those. So far enamel and dentine substitution was partially solved but the current re-emphasizing on the importance of the function of the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) raised new problems in posterior restorations. The lecture will focus on the weakening effect of different cavity configurations and tissue loss in vital teeth. Also it will provide a proposed guideline for choosing the right materials for direct restorations based on biomimetic principles.

Learning objectives:

• learning how certain cavity preparations weaken teeth
• understanding the biomimetic principles of substituting dental structures
• choosing the right material for direct restorations
• learning the key features of fiber reinforced composite material
• being able to use the restorative guideline for different clinical situations aiming to reinforce dental structures