Material selection for direct restorations: Trends among Norwegian dentists from 2015 to 2024.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate Norwegian dentists' use of restorative materials and techniques for Class II restorations over a nine‑year period (2015-2024), following the national transition to non‑amalgam restorative dentistry. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was administered to dentists attending operative dentistry continuing‑education courses at 16 locations in Norway between 2015 and 2024. Participants recorded diagnostic information, restorative procedures and materials for Class II restorations during five working days. In total, 5056 restorations from 581 dentists were included. RESULTS: Resin-based composite was used in 94.4% of the restorations, with a strong preference for conventional composites over bulk‑fill versions. One‑third of the restorations involved multi‑material layering, most frequently with bulk‑fill flowable composites as base materials. The use of protective pulpal liners declined from 16% to 6% over time. Adoption of universal adhesives increased markedly from 10% in 2015 to 60% in 2024. Rubber dam isolation was used in 7% of the procedures, with most clinicians relying on cotton rolls or pads. CONCLUSIONS: Norwegian dentists have almost entirely transitioned to conventional composite materials for Class II restorations, with growing adoption of multi-material layering and universal adhesives. Use of pulpal liners declined substantially over the study period. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These findings provide a comprehensive overview of national restorative practices and highlight key trends relevant for clinical training, guideline preparation, and future research and development of restorative materials and techniques.