Challenges to teaching posterior composites in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Recent surveys from general dental practice have found increased placement of direct composite resin restorations in occlusal (Class I) and occlusoproximal (Class II) cavities in permanent teeth by general dental practitioners. This has been matched, and possibly driven, at least in part, by the development of new composite resin materials and bonding technologies. Recent studies by the authors have found an increase in the teaching of Class I and Class II composite resin restorations in the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada. The increased teaching in the UK and Ireland, however, was not as great as in North America, and several worrying trends were observed. The aim of this paper is to discuss these trends and related factors considered important to the necessary further development of the teaching of Class I and Class II direct composite resin restorations, let alone modern operative dentistry in general, in the UK and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of British Dental Journal is the property of Nature Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)