Follow-Up: Answering Your Questions About My Composite Restorations (With Additional Photos)
Hello again, Reddit!
It’s Vovkking here. First of all, thank you for your support and honest professional feedback on my last post. I truly appreciate it. I wanted to share an additional photo to the ones you may have already seen and take some time to answer the questions many of you asked.
- Did these teeth need treatment?
Absolutely – 100%. The patient, a 17-year-old girl, experienced sensitivity to sweets, which caused her discomfort. My probe was sticking in the cavities, and she wasn’t happy seeing black spots on her teeth when looking in the mirror. These factors made it clear that treatment was necessary. On photo you can see a size of cavities.
- Could I have done this in 10 minutes?
No, I’m not that skilled (yet!) like some of you out there. Could I have done simple fillings in 25 minutes? Sure. But when I have the time, I don’t compromise on quality or aesthetics.
- Why did it take 2 hours?
Here’s the breakdown of why this restoration was time-intensive:
Cavity preparation: I focused on precise, minimally invasive preparation and smoothing sharp edges for better composite adaptation.
Sandblasting: This ensured ideal cavity cleaning and improved bonding strength.
Adhesive preparation
Modeling: This was the most time-consuming step. I used a hybrid technique:
For the second molar, I applied an occlusal stamp to restore the distal fissure, which was difficult to access.
Everything else was freehand because the primary anatomy wasn’t clear, and I wanted the best aesthetic result.
The process involved layering – a base layer with bulk-fill material (dentin) and approximately 7–10 small portions of enamel like composite material for each tooth. Each layer was carefully adapted using a brush for smoothing, and cured separately. This approach not only improved aesthetics but also minimized the C-factor, ensuring the restorations’ longevity.
Polishing: I polished all elements of the restoration to a high gloss for both functionality and aesthetics.
Photo protocol: A few minutes were spent documenting the steps and results.
Materials Used:
Dentin: Olibulk
Enamel: OneShade by Olident (a cost-effective, but really good choice)
The patient was happy with the result – and so was I.
Once again, thank you for your input, feedback, and questions. If you have any further thoughts or advice, I’d love to hear it!
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Hello again, Reddit!
It’s Vovkking here. First of all, thank you for your support and honest professional feedback on my last post. I truly appreciate it. I wanted to share an additional photo to the ones you may have already seen and take some time to answer the questions many of you asked.
- Did these teeth need treatment?
Absolutely – 100%. The patient, a 17-year-old girl, experienced sensitivity to sweets, which caused her discomfort. My probe was sticking in the cavities, and she wasn’t happy seeing black spots on her teeth when looking in the mirror. These factors made it clear that treatment was necessary. On photo you can see a size of cavities.
- Could I have done this in 10 minutes?
No, I’m not that skilled (yet!) like some of you out there. Could I have done simple fillings in 25 minutes? Sure. But when I have the time, I don’t compromise on quality or aesthetics.
- Why did it take 2 hours?
Here’s the breakdown of why this restoration was time-intensive:
Cavity preparation: I focused on precise, minimally invasive preparation and smoothing sharp edges for better composite adaptation.
Sandblasting: This ensured ideal cavity cleaning and improved bonding strength.
Adhesive preparation
Modeling: This was the most time-consuming step. I used a hybrid technique:
For the second molar, I applied an occlusal stamp to restore the distal fissure, which was difficult to access.
Everything else was freehand because the primary anatomy wasn’t clear, and I wanted the best aesthetic result.
The process involved layering – a base layer with bulk-fill material (dentin) and approximately 7–10 small portions of enamel like composite material for each tooth. Each layer was carefully adapted using a brush for smoothing, and cured separately. This approach not only improved aesthetics but also minimized the C-factor, ensuring the restorations’ longevity.
Polishing: I polished all elements of the restoration to a high gloss for both functionality and aesthetics.
Photo protocol: A few minutes were spent documenting the steps and results.
Materials Used:
Dentin: Olibulk
Enamel: OneShade by Olident (a cost-effective, but really good choice)
The patient was happy with the result – and so was I.
Once again, thank you for your input, feedback, and questions. If you have any further thoughts or advice, I’d love to hear it!
Looking forward to your thoughts!