How to Construct a Groove

This technique builds grooves by creating adjacent ridges.
Place and cure the first composite ridge.
Build the adjacent ridge by placing a new increment of composite directly against the cured one.
Using a condenser or a brush slightly moistened with a resin modeling agent, gently compress and adapt the new increment, pushing it toward the first one to form a natural-looking groove between them.

This technique sculpts a groove into a single, larger increment of uncured composite.
Using the pointed end of a modeling instrument, sculpt the groove by starting from the central fossa and moving outward toward the periphery.
- The instrument should slide gently, following the intended path of the groove until it joins the peripheral anatomy.
This center-to-periphery sculpting direction is critical. If sculpting occurs from the periphery inward, the instrument will pull composite away from the restorative margin, creating a gap at the sensitive tooth-restoration interface.
Grooves sculpted via the subtractive method can appear rough.
- A brush slightly moistened with a resin modeling agent can be used to smooth any irregularities and ensure the composite is well-adapted at the margins.
Avoid creating overly deep or sharp grooves. While anatomically tempting, they are difficult to polish, can promote the buildup of food and bacteria, and inhibit proper oral hygiene.