Clinical evaluation of Solitaire-2 restorations placed in United Kingdom general dental practices: 1-year report

OBJECTIVE: Packable composites are a comparatively recent addition to the dentist's armamentarium, Solitaire-2 being an example of this type of material. This paper reports the performance of 100 restorations formed in Solitaire-2 in conjunction with the Gluma Solid Bond system and Gluma One Bond bonding systems, in Class I and II cavity restorations in permanent teeth, placed in the practices of five members of the Product Research and Evaluation by Practitioners (PREP) Panel, a group of United Kingdom-based dental practitioners who are prepared to undertake research projects in their practices. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Five members of the PREP Panel were each requested to place 20 Solitaire-2 restorations. These restorations were reviewed at 1 year by a trained and calibrated evaluator, and the PREP panel member who had placed the restorations. RESULTS: A total of 88 restorations (33 Class I, 55 Class II) in 49 patients (mean age 43 years) were reviewed at 1 year. One Class II restoration (a large mesio-occlusodistal restoration) had been replaced at 10 months after a fracture was detected across the distal box. The remaining 87 (99%) of the restorations were intact with no secondary caries detected. CONCLUSION: Ninety-nine percent of the Solitaire-2 restorations, placed in general dental practice conditions in conjunction with the Gluma Solid Bond system and Gluma One Bond bonding systems, were found to be performing satisfactorily at 1 year.