Advancements in composite materials: Introducing new alternatives for daily clinical practice

The progress in adhesive techniques for direct restorations has opened up opportunities to complement and, to some extent, replace some traditional approaches for dental restorations, providing faster and more reliable results in our daily clinical practice. The development of bulk-fill materials has aimed to simplify and speed up clinical practices, marking the “bulk-fill era” in composite restorations. The lecture aims to explore the specific characteristics of working with bulk-fill composites, as well as the potential for restoring severely damaged non-vital teeth without the use of radicular posts, introducing the concept of an internal adhesive ferrule. A critical analysis will also be provided on the current perspectives on composite materials, discussing whether the implementation of smart composites is still in the field of scientific speculation or if we are seeing the first real-world outcomes from this innovation.