For 70% of clinicians, contact creation is the most challenging part of a Class II restoration.1
You'll love our Palodent Family of Matrix Systems!
When using resin-based composite materials, both isolation and accurate contact creation are essential for successful Class II restorations. Palodent sectional and circumferential matrix systems are designed to help you get it right the first time, every time. The retaining ring, wedge, and sectional or circumferential matrix bands are designed to complement the tooth’s natural anatomy, working together to isolate, seal, and shape the restoration.
It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a radiolucent area is caries or adhesive.
You'll love Prime&Bond active Universal Dental Adhesive!
Thick adhesives can pool in the corners of the proximal box, leading to possible misdiagnosis as secondary decay on radiographs. Prime&Bond active offers a low film thickness, minimizing the risk of adhesive pooling and overtreatment without sacrificing the bond strength that is needed for successful restorations. And with almost no reported postoperative sensitivity, Prime&Bond active helps to ensure patient satisfaction.
Image: On the left side, a restoration has been placed with competitive adhesive presenting as a translucent area due to pooling while Prime&Bond active has been used on the right.
2 out of 3 dentists indicate cavity adaptation is the most important attribute for a successful restoration.2
You'll love SDR flow+ Bulk Fill Flowable!
SDR flow+ material is a one-of-a-kind breakthrough in dentistry—a bulk fill flowable that combines exclusive self-leveling properties and category-best shrinkage stress—which allows for placement up to 4 mm with excellent cavity adaptation, enabling the placement of gap-free restorations.
Internal microscopy image of typical cross sections of a conventional bulk fill composite in cavity preparations of extracted teeth, showing gaps being created within the adhesive layer.⁷
Dentists may spend as much as 14% of chair time selecting the appropriate composite shade.3
You’ll love Ceram.x Spectra ST Universal Composite Restorative!
A2 easily matches 80% of cases with a chameleon effect that's far more natural than single-shade universal composites.
Simplify shade matching by using the A2 shade for the final occlusal layer. Combined with preferred handling and a formula that does not stick to instruments, Ceram.x Spectra ST with SphereTEC Filler Technology delivers the benefits that matter to dentists: optimized handling, enhanced chameleon blending ability, and improved durability, including stain resistance. For full VITA® shade coverage, choose from additional CLOUD shades A1, A3, A3.5, and A4.
Image: Natural teeth filled with A2 shade of Ceram.x Spectra ST composite.
Many lights deliver less than 35% of their stated output to the floor of a proximal box.6
You’ll love SmartLite Pro Modular LED Curing Light!
Confidently cure even large restorations to the full depth and width of the restoration with 4 optimized LEDs that provide uniform light distribution over a full 10-mm diameter. A low profile design provides excellent access to posterior restorations, and combined with excellent beam collimation, the SmartLite Pro easily handles wide restorations and cures reliably even over larger distances.
Image: Beam profiles of 4 lights showing the distribution of light emitted across the light tips.⁶ All images taken at 0 mm distance from the tip under identical conditions showing the un-filtered irradiance distribution of all wavelengths of blue and violet light (350-550 nm).
Finishing and polishing represents 14% of total chair time for a Class II restoration. 7
You’ll love Enhance Finishing System!
The Enhance Finishing System accomplishes the entire process of excess removal, contouring, and finishing simply by varying the pressure. Push harder to remove excess composite; lessen the pressure for final results. The Enhance Finishing System delivers a smooth, contoured surface with a natural-looking finish in just 1 step.
Image: Excess removal and contouring (left) and Finishing (right)
The Dentsply Sirona Class II Approach has been the foundation of my posterior composite armamentarium and teaching protocols for more than 15 years. Using this system simplifies the protocol and enables the clinician to produce efficient and consistent successful outcomes without the stresses of complications and failures."
Navigating key challenges of Class II Restorations
It may be difficult to achieve your goals due to challenges associated with Class II restorations. Predictably and efficiently manage Class ll restorations to keep patients happy and your practice profitable. Learn more!
Isolation
2/3 of doctors' experience difficulty achieving adequate isolation in a Class II restoration. 12
If the restorative field is contaminated with moisture, the physical properties and ultimate success of the composite restoration may be compromised.13
Contact Creation
70% of clinicians find contact creation to be the most challenging part of a Class II restoration. 14
An open or improperly placed or shaped proximal contact can result in a fracture or food impaction, which can lead to periodontal inflammation, bone loss, and recurrent caries.15
2 out of 3 dentists indicate cavity adaptation is the most important attribute for a successful restoration. 16
High shrinkage stress may lead to marginal gap formation. Even if unfilled areas are avoided during placement, a gap-free restoration isn’t guaranteed if materials with high shrinkage stress are used.17,18
Dentists spend as much as 14% of Class II chair time selecting the appropriate composite shade. 19
Closely matching the shade of a natural tooth can be challenging because of the time spent taking a shade and the inherent limitations of the human eye to accurately match color.20,21
Many lights deliver less than 35% of their stated output to the floor of the proximal box. 22
An insufficient cure can lead to adverse effects on physical properties, including:23
Reduced bond strengths
Breakdown at the margins
Microleakage
Secondary caries
Cure fully and reliably with confidence, including bulk filled restorations. Use SmartLite Pro curing light together with SDR flow+ material for faster, fully cured restorations that last.
DentalTown. Restorative dentistry monthly poll: What is the most challenging part of a Class II Restoration? 2012. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com
Key Group International Survey, 2019. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com
Dentsply Sirona Restorative, GNY 2016 Attendee Survey. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com
Internal data on file. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com
Usman AB, Ahmed A, Qasim J. Frequency of postoperative sensitivity in posterior class I composite restorations. Pakistan Oral Dent J. 2014;34(3):532-535. / Berkowitz GS, Horowitz AJ, Curro FA, et al. Postoperative hypersensitivity in class I resin-based composite restorations in general practice: interim results. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2009;30(6):356-363. / Haller, Die postoperative Hypersensibilität, zm 99, Nr. 6a, 13.03.2009 S. 44-51./ Briso ALF, Mestrener SR, Delício G, et al. Clinical assessment of postoperative sensitivity in posterior composite restorations. Oper Dent. 2007;32(5):421-426. doi:10.2341/06-141
BlueLight Analytics. Irradiance value comparison among commercially available curing lights. 2012. Unpublished commissioned study, data on file. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests @dentsplysirona.com
Internal data on file. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests @dentsplysirona.com
Perdigão J, Geraldeli S, Hodges JS. Total-etch versus self-etch adhesive: effect on postoperative sensitivity. JADA. 2003;134(12):1621-1629.
Jackson RD. Placing posterior composites: increasing efficiency. Dent Today. 2011;30(4):126,128,130-131.
Kuper NK, Opdam NJ, Ruben JL, et al. Gap size and wall lesion development next to composite. J Dent Res. 2014;93:108S-113S.
Schneider LFJ, Cavalcante LM, Silikas N. Shrinkage stresses generated during resin-composite applications: a review. J Dent Biomech. 2010;131630. doi:10.4061/2010/131630
Key Group International Survey, 2019, n=300. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com
Gilbert GH, Litaker MS, Pihlstrom DJ, Amundson CW, Gordan VV. DPBRN Collaborative Group. Rubber dam use during routine operative dentistry procedures: findings from the Dental PBRN. Oper Dent. 2010;35(5):491-499. doi:10.2341/09-287C
DentalTown. Restorative Dentistry. Monthly poll: what is the most challenging part of a Class II restoration? 2012
Rosenburg JM. Making contact: a method for restoring adjacent posterior direct resin. Dent Today. 2013;32(3):92,94-95
Key Group International Survey, 2019, n=300. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com.
Jackson RD. Placing posterior composites: increasing efficiency. Dent Today. 2011;30(4):126,128,130-131.
Kuper NK, Opdam NJ, Ruben JL, et al. Gap size and wall lesion development next to composite. J Dent Res. 2014;93:108S-113S. doi:10.1177/0022034514534262
Data on file. Dentsply Sirona Restorative. GNY 2016 Attendee Survey. For more information, contact Consumables-Data-Requests@dentsplysirona.com
Clinicians Report March 2021.
Paul S, Peter A, Hämmerle CHF. Visual and spectrophotometric shade analysis of human teeth. J Dent Res. 2002;81(8):578-582.
BlueLight Analytics. Irradiance value comparison among commercially available curing lights. 2012.