Composites have been used for tooth restorations for more than 30 years, and materials designed specifically for optimal aesthetics have been introduced by nearly every company in recent years. Nowadays, because of the improvements in enamel and specially in dentin adhesion, adhesive dentistry allows to reinforce the dental unit, which enables the dentist to truly restore the tooth to its almost original strength. For the patients, esthetics is the most evident advantage of adhesive dentistry and generally they are more satisfied with tooth colored restorations. In the last years, significant improvements in composite technology have been made, but for making a state of the art restoration there are some rules and limitations to be respected. It is true that with composites it is not necessary to make retentive cavities, but there are many preparation rules to be follow. Another aspect is the reliability of the adhesive layer. Can we achieve a reliable bond with self etching primers or is the total etch technique still the best? On the other hand we have the light polymerization. During the last years LED technology have revolutionised light curing and successfully introduced cordless polymerization to the dental practice. But LEDs have some well documented limitations as any emerging technology. Are LEDs really better than halogen lamps? How long should we cure and which technique is the best? These are only some of the questions that are going to be answer during the course. |
