Bulk-fill technique may replace incrementally layered conventional resin technique in direct resin composite application
Resin composite has been the preferred direct restorative material by dental practitioners for the treatment of anterior and posterior teeth, with acceptable success rates and longer-term clinical performance reported in the literature.
Bulk-fill technique good alternative to incrementally layered conventional resin technique in direct resin composite application suggests a new study published in the Evidence-Based Dentistry.
A study was done to systematically review the scientific evidence comparing the clinical effectiveness of bulk-fill versus incrementally layered conventional resin composites and to evaluate if one method offers clear merits with specific clinical outcomes.
Using relevant mesh terms and pre-established eligibility criteria in PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science, a thorough scientific search was conducted with an end-date of 30.04.2023. Randomized controlled clinical trials that involved the direct comparison of Class I and Class II resin composite restorations applied using incremental layering techniques versus bulk-filled in permanent teeth with an observation period of at least six months were considered. To evaluate the bias risk of the finalized records, a revised version of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials was implemented.
Results
Out of the 1445 records determined, 18 eligible reports were chosen for qualitative analysis. Data obtained was categorized as per, the cavity design, the intervention, the comparator(s), the methods of success/failure assessment, the outcomes, and follow-up. Two studies demonstrated an overall low-risk of bias, fourteen studies raised some concerns, and two studies exhibited high-risk.
Bulk filled resin composite restorations demonstrated clinical outcomes similar to those of incrementally layered resin composite restorations within a review interval of 6 months to 10 years.
Reference:
Sengupta, A., Naka, O., Mehta, S.B. et al. The clinical performance of bulk-fill versus the incremental layered application of direct resin composite restorations: a systematic review. Evid Based Dent (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-023-00905-4
Keywords:
Bulk-fill, technique, good, alternative, incrementally, layered, conventional, resin, technique, direct resin, composite application, Sengupta, A., Naka, O., Mehta, S.B., Evid Based Dent
