Affiliation:
1. Emeritus Professor, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry
2. Head Dental Officer, Denplan, Andover; Part-time Clinical Lecturer, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry
3. Retired staff/External secondee, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry
Abstract
Patients today are increasingly seeking tooth-coloured restorations for their posterior dentition, and with the anticipated decline in the use of amalgam as a result of the Minamata Agreement, this trend will increase. However, these are relatively recent considerations, given that the first dedicated resin composite material intended for use in posterior teeth appeared in 1986. Although macro-filled resin composite materials were available prior to 1986, they exhibited poor wear resistance. This article reviews the history of so-called ‘posterior composite’ restorations as gleaned from the pages of Dental Update, including how some of the early techniques described were subsequently proved to be erroneous, and how knowledge from research and clinical experience corrected these, so that clinicians may now place predictable, reliable, aesthetic ‘posterior composite’ restorations. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Lessons from the history of posterior composites may provide the foundation for their successful use in contemporary clinical practice.