Have you actually looked back at your long-term cases to see how layering compares to injection moulding?
Is traditional freehand layering still your go-to for anterior composite aesthetics?
Are you using it because it gives the best result — or just because that’s how you were trained?
In this episode, Dr. Marco Maiolino joins Jaz Gulati for a meaty discussion about injection moulding—a technique that’s changing the game in anterior composites (and posterior!)
This isn’t about trends. It’s about clinical outcomes.
We’ve all admired the beauty of layered composites—translucency, halo, the “natural” look. But after 5, 7, or even 10 years… do they hold up?
Dr. Maiolino brings over a decade of follow-up data—and the results might surprise you.
https://youtu.be/wHs8QQkgPhUWatch PDP228 on YoutubeProtrusive Dental Pearl* When in doubt between two shades (e.g., A1 vs. A2), always choose the lighter shade. Higher-value shades blend better and result in higher patient satisfaction. * Techniques: Use the composite button method and black-and-white photography to objectively evaluate shade blending. * Outcome: Lighter shades minimize the risk of patient dissatisfaction and rework.
???? Download the full Premium Notes for this episode—including clinical comparison of injection moulding and layering technique, long-term before/after documentation, and Marco’s complete injection moulding protocol: ???? protrusive.co.uk/im
Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!
Key Clinical Takeaways* Injected composites often outperform layered ones in long-term follow-up. * Color stability is as much about technique as it is about material selection. * Edge bonding requires careful occlusal planning and respect for functional dynamics. * The biologic cost of veneers is frequently underestimated—additive approaches can be more conservative. * Composite thickness and occlusal harmony are critical for restoration longevity. * Rigorous documentation and honest case review matter more than dramatic presentations. * Failures are not setbacks—they are opportunities for professional growth and better patient care.
Episode Highlights:
????Upcoming Talks & Courses
Dr. Marco Maiolino will be one of the notable speakers at the Injectable Restorations European Summit 2025, taking place on November 7–8, 2025. This highly anticipated event gathers leading experts in the field and will be held in Europe. For more information and registration details, visit the official website: injectionsummit.eu.
If you loved this episode, be sure to watch Stop Being a Perfectionist – it’s OK to Fail – PDP184
This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance.
This episode meets GDC Outcomes C and D
AGD Subject Code: 250 Operative (Restorative) Dentistry (Direct restorations)
As clinicians, we’re constantly challenged to balance esthetics, function, and longevity in our restorative work. In this episode, Dr. Marco Maiolino joins Jaz Gulati for a candid, evidence-driven exploration of injection moulding—a technique that’s rapidly shifting the paradigm in anterior composite restorations. This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about critically evaluating what truly works for our patients over the long haul.
Dentists will be able to:1. Understand the indications, benefits, and limitations of edge bonding and injection moulding.
Click below for full episode transcript:Teaser: More layers you do, in my experience, more aging, you will get on that restoration. So if you see in my office, I have just three comp, I have a A1, A2, A3. So injection moulding is a way to apply composite that for me is the best.Teaser:I’m glad you mentioned it, that you are so convinced and dedicated to the injection moulding way to deliver a restoration that you’ve pretty much now found ways. As long as you can make your scaffold.
On the mesial distal, you have some composite with just one shade. Now this brown area is much more evident than before. So the patient completed the appointment. Saying, I am very happy. I have no more black triangles. I am very happy. But when you’re doing a study patient with the worn dentition because of occlusal problem, if you are going to do, for example, an important canine guidance, an important incisal guidance, they’re going to break everything after a while.
But honestly, when I see with air drying the restorations with magnification, and I see the interproximal surfaces in comparison to the surface that I have with injection moulding with matrices. This surface-
Is there a composite that you found to have superior longevity in terms of color stability, polishability? Is it a 3M Filtek? Is it Estelite? I dunno, what are you preferring nowadays?
Okay. What I use every single day in my life is I use-
Jaz’s Introduction:Protruserati, there’s been a big shift over the years towards injection molding. Now, some of this has been driven by the industry, of course, right? So we always have to be careful about biases.
Biases are everywhere. Now, use this technique, use that technique because there’s a lot of money involved for these companies. But what I look for is clinicians that change, that pivot from a technique that’s perhaps established and we know of, and they pivot and change to a different technique. And if they can justify why they’ve made that change and share the science or the rationale, I like when something is justified.
There is a clear science behind a decision that’s made by a clinician that’s fantastic. Rather than, oh, this company’s paying me. So I’m talking more about this product. This is why I really respect today’s guest, Dr. Marco Maiolino. We’ve had him on as a guest before on the imperfect dentist. He is such an authentic character.
He talks about his failures very openly, and it’s his failures in layering over time, right? He shares the long-term data of seeing his composites and he is a very good practitioner. High quality isolation, high quality materials microscope, everything. But what he noticed at the eight, 10 year mark is that his layered composites were not looking very aesthetic despite using the best materials and best techniques.
They certainly did not look as lovely as they did at day one. So many years ago. He moved, I believe he said 2014, he moved towards injection molding. Now when I say injection molding, you guys probably think, oh, exaclear or memosil stent, and then you inject the genial injectable composite or any other composite that may be available.
But actually, injection molding is just the name of the technique, the act of injecting into a space. So this could be bioclear or these transparent matrices. It could be just a humble mylar strip behind a tooth, and then you inject the composite into that space once you’ve made your scaffolding.
So really, this episode is about the process of injecting that material and why the injection of composite is superior according to Marco than layering bit by bit and some of the issues that you can face with that, and why in the long run, whilst your layered composite may look a little bit more beautiful, a little bit nicer on day one compared to your injected composite, when you look at them at eight, 10 years, the injected composite looks more consistent, more stable, both types of color. Luster, shape, all those things. So there is a science behind it. And to discuss that science we have Dr. Marco.
Dental PearlHello Protruserati. I’m Jaz Gulati, and welcome back to your favorite dental podcast. Every PDP episode I give you a Protrusive Dental pearl. Today’s pearl is something I shared a few weeks ago on our community Protrusive Guidance, the home of the nicest and geekiest dentist in the world.
And it’s about my thoughts on shade selection on composite. Now, in previous pearls, I have discussed the button technique. Getting a small button of composite, curing it, and then having a look. Hmm, does it match the adjacent tooth? Is this gonna be the right shade to use for my patient? And in another episode we did with Dr. Jason Smithson, he ...