Abstract: The presentation of patients with dental restorations that exhibit minor defects is
one of the commonest clinical situations in the practice of general dentistry. The repair of such
restorations, rather than replacement, is increasingly considered to be a viable alternative to
replacement of the defective restoration. This paper considers factors influencing the repair
of direct restorations, including indications and details of relevant techniques, based on the
best available knowledge and understanding of this important aspect of minimal intervention
dentistry. Practitioners who do not consider repair before deciding to replace restorations that
present with limited defects are encouraged to consider including repair in the treatment options
in such situations. The effective repair of direct restorations can greatly influence the rate of
descent down the “restorative death spiral”.
Keywords: restoration repair, minimally invasive dentistry