Determination of changes on tooth-colored cervical restorations in vivo using a three-dimensional laser scanning device

The present study aimed at the determination of changes of tooth-colored ce rvical restorations in vivo using an optical 3-dimensional laser scanning d evice. The study was performed on 197 cervical restorations placed on incis ors, canines, and premolars. Four different tooth-colored restoration mater ials, a composite, a polyacid-modified resin composite, and two resin-modif ied glass ionomer cements, were used for the restoration of the lesions. Fo r the determination of changes, images were taken at baseline and 15, 24 an d 36 months after the placement of the fillings using a 3D-laser scanning d evice. The images were superimposed automatically, and digital subtraction was made by a specially developed image analysis software. The total substa nce loss on the entire filling surface at 36 months for the resin-modified glass ionomer Photac-Fil was 44 (+/- 23) mu m, for Fuji II LC 45 (+/-26) mu m, for Dyract 71 (+/- 47) mu m and for Tetric 18 (+/- 12) mu m. Differenti ating between the class of lesion, a higher wear rate was observed at 36 mo nths on restorations which had been placed in erosion/non-carious cervical cavities (66 (+/- 33) mu m). In conclusion, the composite material demonstr ated a distinctly lower surface wear rate over time in comparison to the re sin-modified glass ionomer cements and the polyacid-modified resin composit e.