Practice-based Two-year Clinical Performance of Low-shrinkage Resin Composite Restorations

Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance, at two years, of load-bearing restorations formed in Filtek SiloraneTM resin composite (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany), in patients attending five UK dental practices. Methods: Five members of the PREP Panel - a practice-based research group of general dental practitioners in the UK and Ireland, participated. Ethical approval was obtained. Each practitioner was asked to place 25 class I or II restorations formed in Filtek SiloraneTM (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) resin composite, where indicated on posterior teeth. The restorations were reviewed by one independent examiner along with the practitioner who placed the restorations at two years +/- 3 months, using modified USPHS criteria. Results: 101 restorations, of the 122 originally placed (83% recall), of mean age 25.7 months (range 18 – 33 months) in 65 patients (40 Female and 25 Male: mean age 47.1 years) were examined. Of the 101 restorations, 31 were Class I and 70 were Class II, with 29% (n=29) of the restorations involving the replacement of one or more cusps. All restorations were present and intact, with 83% rated optimal for marginal integrity and none unacceptable. No secondary caries was detected. 77% of the restorations were rated optimal for marginal discolouration and none were scored unacceptable. 99% of the restorations were rated optimal for color match and no surface staining was recorded. 92% of the restorations were rated optimal for surface quality and 97% were rated optimal for anatomic form. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that Class I and Class II restorations of Filtek Silorane, placed in patients attending five UK general dental practices, are performing satisfactorily after 2 years. Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank the participating practitioners and their patients and acknowledge financial support from 3M ESPE.