COMPOSITE TECHNIQUE    SMILE DESIGN     COMPANIES/MATERIALS    MATERIAL SCIENCE

         CLASS 3

Mandibular incisors require replacement of stained, faulty class three fillings.  Teeth are anesthetized with local infiltration buccal to the roots.  Old composite and caries is removed.  Restorations extend to the facial and one extends to the lingual.  Defects that have no tooth backing show through darkness from the back of the mouth.  Placement of an opaque or dentin shaded composite on the lingual prevents darkness showing through.  In this case, there is enough buccal lingual dimension that the thickness of a translucent composite blocks the darkness without an opaque backing.

A large buccal lingual dimension increases stress from composite shrinkage that will cause enamel fracture so a layering technique is used.  A clear plastic strip is placed but not wrapped around the tooth.  Wrapping a plastic strip creates straight surfaces and eliminates oxygen inhibited areas and minimizes successful composite addition.  To minimize effects of shrinkage, composite is layered by placing a lingual wall, shaping and curing.  A buccal layer of composite is placed, shaped and cured.  Very little shaping or polishing is required after light curing if proper precured shaping is done.  Sandpaper strips remove excess interproximal composite if necessary.  Sandpaper disks, rubber wheels, points and cups shape and polish buccal and lingual surfaces if necessary.  Polishing with rubber cups and polishing paste produces a highly polished restoration.