Technique tips: Ten top tips to overcome common mistakes concerning the use of dental materials

Very often, little regard or thought is given to the importance of the selection, clinical handling and usage of dental materials. This is a potentially serious oversight leading to the substandard performance of the material clinically and, therefore, a poor treatment outcome for the patient. The aim of the present article is to highlight 10 factors that, if adopted, will improve the clinical performance of dental materials and biomaterials and so, the prognosis of treatment.

This is the most important tip and one that can never be repeated too often or stressed too much. Regrettably, it is one that many dentists fail to do often, or indeed, at all. On receipt of a new product, the temptation to discard the directions for use (DFU) should be resisted (Figure 1).¹ These instructions should be read thoroughly, and in full, prior to attempting to use the material. Failure to do so carries a distinct risk of misuse of the material, leading to inferior clinical performance. It should never be assumed how a material should be handled and the dental team should not be tempted to guess. Furthermore, it is considered good practice to recheck the DFU with each new batch of material in case the product has changed surreptitiously because of product development, regulatory demands or ongoing product safety. Many clinics keep a folder of DFUs in an easily accessible central location for reference by all members of the dental team (Figure 2). Responsibility for its maintenance normally lies with the staff member tasked with stock control and who should insert the DFU from the latest batch and remove the existing one.¹