DISCUSSION
Cervical lesions are common and they pose a challenge to the dental profession. It is likely that their prevalence will increase, as the world's population ages. The location of these lesions makes it difficult to provide a long-lasting restoration. The prevalence of noncarious Class V lesions has been estimated to be between 31 and 56%. It has also been estimated that 85% of the population shows some loss of tooth structure at the cervical area.[4]
Over the last decade or so, a biomechanical theory (tooth flexure theory) has been postulated, suggesting that mechanical overloading of cervical enamel caused by cuspal flexure may contribute to noncarious cervical tooth loss. As the tooth flexes, the cusps are subjected to an axial compression load, resulting in cervical tensile and shear stresses acting at right angles to an axial load in a manner similar to a diametral compression test. This results in breakdown of the bonds between the hydroxyapatite crystals, which leads to crack formation, which eventually results in enamel loss. This mechanism has been termed ‘abfraction’.[5]
Abfraction lesions are wedge-shaped defects that are principally found on the buccal and labial aspects of the teeth. There seems to be a strong association between abfraction lesions and parafunctional habits. Previous studies have found that stresses concentrate in the thin cervical enamel area and the magnitude of these stresses exceeds the known failure stresses for enamel.[6]
A higher frequency of cervical lesions has been noted in mandibular teeth than in maxillary teeth. In recent studies, retentive failure rates of restorations were also found to be higher in the mandibular arch than the maxillary arch. The higher incidence and increased failure rate of restorations are consistent with the lingual orientation of the mandibular teeth. It renders them more susceptible to the concentration of tensile stresses at the cervical cross section of the mandibular teeth, particularly the bicuspids and may also contribute to the failure of these teeth to withstand tensile stress. The difficulty in moisture control of mandibular teeth during the restorative process and less number of open tubules in mandibular dentin have also been mentioned as possible contributory factors to the increased failure rate.[1]
Numerous clinical trials have been undertaken involving Class V restorations, but no consensus currently exists regarding the long-term clinical performance of any restorative material. Many questions regarding material selection and clinical techniques are still unanswered.
Treatment of Class V lesions presents a unique challenge. Leakage and lost restoration are a common observation among clinicians. Tooth location, stressful, occlusion, type of restorative material and the age of the patient have significant influence on the retentive failure rates.[7]
Resin composites and glass ionomer cements are widely used for restoring cervical lesions, as they are esthetic and mercury free, and they bond to the tooth structure. One of the main problems that clinicians face when restoring Class V or cervical cavities with composite resin is dealing with the problems of polymerization shrinkage. The shrinkage which accompanies the setting of these materials results in marginal gap formation in the order of 10-15µm and this gap often remains open, despite swelling of the restoration following water absorption. These gaps between the tooth margin and restoration lead to clinical problems such as post-operative sensitivity, stained margins and recurrent caries.[8]
Microfilled resins tend to flex with the tooth rather than debond, as compared to the more rigid macrofilled resin restorations.[8] A thickness of resin of up to 80µm would be helpful in increasing the strain capacity of Class V composite restoration, so that it will be better able to resist the forces generated by polymerization shrinkage.[7]