Article:

It was 50 years ago when Dr. Michael Buonocore asked if I would help develop the esthetic uses of his and Rafael Bowen’s newly developed bis-GMA composite resin. The possibilities for doing this were exciting. Having utilized both silicate- and acrylic-based materials for esthetic restorations and achieving little satisfaction with even the best long-term results, the first large particle composite materials were welcomed for their strength and beauty. Since these materials were self-curing, it was necessary to work fast. Buonocore’s only proven use was to restore a fractured tooth, so I developed techniques for the different classifications of restorations. I also created the beveled overlay technique still used today, and showed that the material could also be used for closing a diastema, making crowded teeth look straight, and masking discolored teeth. Buonocore and Bowen’s contributions were significant because they allowed for a much more conservative restorative treatment. When I began my dental career, the full crown was really the main option being taught for esthetic dentistry. With the development of composite resins, we could refrain from reducing valuable enamel; this not only saved the patient money, but also helped to preserve teeth and lessened the potential for endodontic pathology.