BACKGROUND: New heavy-body (packable) composites have been developed for use in posterior direct resin restorations. These materials are promoted as having better handling characteristics and higher physical properties than previous microhybrid composites. METHODS: The authors describe an incremental layering technique that takes advantage of the improved handling characteristics and proposed reduced shrinkage and greater depth of cure. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: When this new technique is used with one-bottle adhesives and improved instrumentation, posterior heavy-body composites can be placed faster, easier and possibly more predictably than when medium-body resins and previous techniques are used.
BACKGROUND: New heavy-body (packable) composites have been developed for use in posterior direct resin restorations. These materials are promoted as having better handling characteristics and higher physical properties than previous microhybrid composites. METHODS: The authors describe an incremental layering technique that takes advantage of the improved handling characteristics and proposed reduced shrinkage and greater depth of cure. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: When this new technique is used with one-bottle adhesives and improved instrumentation, posterior heavy-body composites can be placed faster, easier and possibly more predictably than when medium-body resins and previous techniques are used.