For this purpose, various materials are used, depending on the objective of the treatment and the conditions present at the time of the intervention.
Currently, direct composite resins are the most commonly used material for the restoration of damaged dental structures, as they allow for aesthetic restorations in both anterior and posterior teeth, with properties that closely resemble natural teeth (such as shine, colour, texture, among others), without compromising the physical and mechanical characteristics of the restorative material.
When oral conditions are not ideal—due to excessive salivary flow, bleeding, the patient’s physical conditions, or even the need to stabilise carious disease before enabling aesthetic rehabilitation—it may be necessary to use glass ionomer. This material, although white, has slightly lower aesthetic qualities than composite resins, but it has the advantage of releasing fluoride into the oral environment and can be used in more challenging conditions, allowing for disease stabilisation and the creation of favourable conditions for future restorations.
There are also cases where the use of dental amalgam is the best option. For instance, when the oral conditions are not suitable for resin use due to excessive saliva and blood, and the dentist determines that glass ionomer cannot adequately seal the cavity.
