We May Have Done Something Right: Composite Restorations at the College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Abstract

The success of composite restorations requires meticulous clinical technique in addition to reliable restorative materials and armamentarium. Early failure of restorations is undesirable and are usually replaced at no cost to patients. A metaanalysis study reported a mean annual failure rate of 1.46% for posterior composite restorations. At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry (UTHSC CoD) predoctoral clinic the percentage of posterior composite restorations replaced within 12 months, retrieved from 2007-2014 electronic chart 'redo' records, was on average 0.58%. Several factors may have contributed to the quality of composite restorations placed by novice clinicians with modest experience. Student doctors are educated about composite placement in preclinical courses and then work under close supervision during their clinical training. This article describes restorative techniques for composites and the rationales taught at the UTHSC CoD Department of Restorative Dentistry. The objective is to share the information, which can be adopted or modified by general practitioners in daily practice.