First and foremost, radiograph all sites to be restored. A vertical crown-root fracture that is not noticeable clinically can, in many instances, be diagnosed with intramural radiology. Disease, periodontal defects, bony pathology and much more may interfere with your initial restorative plan after X-rays are completed. Adding one or all to your library is essential as we move into the third millennium. Once radiology is completed and a treatment plan has been chosen, it is essential to master the basic principles of composite resin restoratives.
Many options exist with composite resins.
I emphasize flowable, hybrid resins and condensable or packable hybrids. Before reaching for the restorative, the site to be treated must be free of debris and then polished with a non-fluoride pumice. Fluoride may interfere with the next stage of etching and therefore should never be in the pumice material that is used for polishing. Next, the surface should be acid etched. There is much controversy over the time to acid etch enamel and dentin.