From vulcanite to vinyl, a history of resins in restorative dentistry.

This article provides historical background on the development of resin-based dental restorative materials. With an understanding of the evolution of these materials, clinicians can better appreciate both the complexity of and similarities among the wide variety of resins and polymerization techniques available today. Common problems associated with the use of resin-based materials are explained, and more advanced resin-based systems currently under development are briefly reviewed.