CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF A POSTERIOR COMPOSITE 10-YEAR REPORT

Objective. The 10-year findings of one of the studies which comprised the multicentre clinical evaluation of a light-cured posterior composi te restorative are reported, with special emphasis on the reasons and timing of failure of restorations included in the study. Effects of th e use of rubber dam or cotton rolls and aspiration for isolation at th e time of placement are considered. Method. One hundred Class I and II restoration of the resin composite investigated were placed by a sing le operator in a group of selected, predominantly young-adult patients under highly controlled conditions, with the use of rubber dam or cot ton rolls and aspiration for isolation being determined according to a scheme of randomisation. The restorations were reviewed clinically af ter 1 week and with 1 month of placement (baseline) and, thereafter, a t 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 years using modified USPHS codes a nd criteria. Epoxy models and photographs were obtained for retrospect ive analysis. Results. After 10 years, 37 restorations were reviewed a nd 32 restorations were known to have failed. Regarding the reasons fo r failure, loss of occlusal anatomic form during the first 5 years and loss of approximal contacts near the end of the study accounted for m ost of the failures. Only two failures were attributed to recurrent ca ries. Few of the restorations found to be clinically satisfactory at 1 0 years had retained ideal functional characteristics. Locations, Clas s and size of restoration and the method of isolation were not found t o significantly influence 10-year performance and survival. Conclusion . The actual 10-year failure rate, estimated to have been between 40 a nd 50% is considered to have been high, notably given the limited inci dence of recurrent caries and bulk fracture. However, the findings ind icate that certain restorations of the material investigated, despite the use of outdated operative techniques, may be found to perform sati sfactorily over period in excess of 10 years. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.