Direct restorative materials are placed and shaped directly into a cavity preparation at chairside, in a single clinical visit, rather than fabricated in a laboratory. This category includes composite resins, glass ionomer and resin-modified glass ionomer materials, and other tooth-colored or metallic filling materials used to restore decayed, fractured, or worn teeth. Direct restoratives are selected based on cavity location, esthetic demand, and moisture control conditions, and are typically cured incrementally to manage polymerization shrinkage. They represent one of the highest-volume material categories in general restorative dental practice.