The short-term clinical performance of a low shrinkage composite in posterior restorations with gingival margins in enamel and dentin

Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of a low-shrinkage silorane-based restorative material in class II cavities.

This study was conducted in-vivo on sixty human permanent maxillary and mandibular molars. The teeth were divided into four groups viz: Group I, Group II, Group III and Group IV of fifteen teeth each. Standardized class II cavities were prepared with cervical margins approximately1mm above the CEJ in Group I & Group III and approximately 1mm below the CEJ in Group II & Group IV. The prepared cavities were filled with Filtek^TM Supreme XT (nanocomposite) in Group I & Group II and Filtek^TM P90 (silorane-based composite) in Group III & Group IV. The restorations were evaluated clinically by using modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Ryge criteria at 3, 6 & 9 months. The collected data was analyzed statistically using Chi-Square test.

Both the materials showed only minor changes with respect to marginal discoloration, marginal integrity & fracture of restoration, and no differences were detected between their performance as regard color match, anatomic contour, change in surface texture and secondary caries at enamel (E) and cementum/dentin (C/D) margins after 9 months. Only one Filtek^TM Supreme XT (nanocomposite) restoration fractured at 6 months. Regarding the clinical performance there were no statistically significant differences among the materials used at both the margins (p > 0.05).

After 9 months Filtek ^TM P90 (silorane-based composite) showed acceptable clinical performance similar to that of Filtek^TM Supreme XT (nanocomposite) and may be recommended for clinical use.