Evaluation of the handling of a new compomer and novel dispensing system in general dental practice

Objective: Easy handling of materials is essential to the production of good clinical results. The handling properties of a new compomer material and its novel primer/adhesive-dispensing system were tested in clinical us Method and materials: Ten general dental practitioners used the new material and dispenser for 3 weeks and completed a questionnaire regarding the handling, esthetics, and ease of use. They were asked to compare the new material to the compomer, resin composite, and glass-ionomer materials normally used in their own practice. Results: The material scored a mean of 4.4 for dispensing convenience on a linear scale of 1 (inconvenient) to 5 (convenient) and 4.6 for ease of use (5 = easy to use, and 1 = difficult to use). The dispensing system achieved a high rating of 4.9 for convenience (5 = convenient, and 1 = inconvenient). Conclusion: The new material received ratings that were superior to those of the glass-ionomer and compomer materials normally used by the evaluators and similar to ratings of the resin composite normally used.