title: Defective dental restorations: to repair or not to repair? Part 1: direct composite restorations.
abstract: The presentation of patients with failing dental restorations that exhibit minor defects is a common clinical situation in everyday dental practice. The repair of such restorations, rather than replacement, is increasingly considered to be a viable alternative to the replacement of the defective restoration. This first of two papers considers indications and techniques for the repair of defective direct composite restorations. It is possible that some dental practitioners are unaware of the option of repair rather than replacement of composite restorations. This article provides an overview of contemporary knowledge and understanding of restoration repair in the clinical management of defective composite restorations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A sound understanding of the indications, benefits and techniques of direct composite restoration repair could allow the longevity of the existing restoration to be extended without unnecessarily sacrificing healthy tooth structure.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol Dental Hospital & School, London, UK.
authors.forename: Igor R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Daryll C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jagger
authors.forename: Nairn H F
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000075202:Contraindications; D003657:Decision Making; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000379:methods; D017269:Dental Prosthesis Repair; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018579:Patient Selection; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D013499:Surface Properties; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials