Absolute isolation: materials and strategies for success in restorative dentistry

Isolamento absoluto: materiais e estratégias para o sucesso na odontologia restauradora

ABSTRACT

Today, the vast majority of restorative procedures require adhesive techniques. The clinical success of these restorations is directly related to bond strength. Proper material selection, bonding protocols and techniques must be carefully followed to improve clinical performance. The quality of the resin-adhesive-tooth interface is influenced not only by the Chemical composition of the materials and polymerization protocols, but also by the environment to which they are exposed, such as temperature and humidity. Humidity control is critical to the success of adhesive procedures. Contamination from gingival fluid, saliva or blood can affect the strength of the resin bond to the tooth structure, resulting in loss of restorations, secondary cavities, postoperative sensitivity and discoloration. The use of a rubber dam is considered the gold standard procedure when it comes to adhesion. The objective of this work was to perform a literature review to identify different techniques, materials and strategies for performing absolute isolation. The literature analyzed confirmed that isolation is an indispensable step when it comes to bonding procedures, but there are some challenging cases. To overcome this situation, some techniques can be used to make things easier, but each case must be planned individually, as there are several ways to achieve satisfactory absolute isolation.

Indexing terms
Dental restoration, permanent; Dentistry, operative; Rubber dams