Comparison of Post-Treatment Complications of Conventional Composites Versus Self-Adhering Composites: A Review Publisher

Summary: Can self-adhering composites (SACs) match conventional composites (CCs) in dentistry? Research suggests SACs perform similarly but show higher microleakage. More studies needed! #Dentistry #ResearchStudy

Farshad F ; Eskandari E ; Rohaninasab M
Source: Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry Published:2026

Abstract

Self-adhering composites (SACs) are designed to simplify dental procedures by eliminating the need for separate adhesive systems. These materials are indicated for small Class I and Class V cavities, noncarious cervical lesions, and as liners in Class I and II restorations. Despite their advantages, the long-term durability and clinical performance of these composites compared to conventional composites (CCs) is a question. This study aims to compare post-treatment complications, including marginal adaptation, postoperative sensitivity, marginal discoloration, marginal gap, and microleakage, between CCs and SACs. In February 2024, a comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. No filters were applied during the search. Keywords included ‘resin composite restoration’, ‘post-operative sensitivity’, ‘marginal adaptation’, ‘marginal gap’, and ‘microleakage’. Studies were selected based on inclusion criteria (clinical trials, English-language, focusing on SACs vs. CCs) and exclusion criteria (nonindexed studies, conference abstracts, editorials, case reports, review articles, or pre-2019 studies). From 361 articles, 148 remained after removing duplicates and title screening. Out of 148 records found in databases, six records were selected for this study. Data showed that SACs and CCs have comparable marginal adaptation, postoperative sensitivity, marginal discoloration, and retention in conservative restorations. SACs showed slightly higher microleakage in some cases. Overall, the clinical performance of SACs were comparable to that of CCs. Thus, SACs can be a practical alternative for simplifying restorative procedures. However, their potential for higher microleakage needs further investigation through long-term clinical studies. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by MJS Publishing on behalf of Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, with the condition of proper attribution to the original work.