Dr Papanikolaou, what are some current trends in direct restorations?
Nowadays, the snowplough technique for the posterior area is widely used among dentists. It is supposed to increase the marginal adaptation of posterior composites and reduce microleakage over time. Another trend that will be discussed in my webinar is the use of flowable composites that reproduce the opalescent effect of the teeth in the anterior area.

What techniques or materials are available to dentists today?
For posterior restorations, the new material Tetric Prime [Ivoclar Vivadent] offers a great solution to past disadvantages. For anterior restorations, the gold standard is IPS Empress Direct [Ivoclar Vivadent], which has a broad variety of shades, effects and tints to cover all cases. In my webinar, I will discuss incremental filling techniques for the posterior area, such as the most commonly used centripetal and snowplough techniques. For the anterior area, we will look into stratification.

What is challenging about direct posterior or anterior restorations?
Current reviews of literature demonstrate that the annual failure rate of posterior composite resin restorations ranges from 1% to 3% per year. The greatest concern of the dental community is the gingival marginal integrity in the proximal box area, and I will demonstrate how to overcome this problem with a simplified technique. For restorations in the anterior region, achieving an aesthetic result with sufficient integration of the dental restoration is the most difficult aspect, but nothing is impossible if you proceed step by step.

What will dentists gain from watching your webinar?
Dentists will receive technical information on adhesion strategies, isolation procedures and new materials on the market. They will learn techniques for better stratification in anterior restorations and incremental filling techniques for the posterior area. Other topics that are going to be addressed are colour perception and how tooth anatomy determines our finishing procedures.

Editorial note: The 1-hour webinar, titled “Direct posterior and anterior restorations: From a simplified approach to a demanding stratification”, will be presented live on Thursday, 25 June, at 1 p.m. CEST. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the topic, as well as earn a continuing education credit by answering a questionnaire after the lecture. Registration on the Ivoclar Vivadent Academy is free of charge.

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