The purpose of this study was to assess retrospectively the longevity of resin-bonded composite strip crowns placed in primary maxillary incisors. Records for 200 out of 387 children, aged 22-48 months, treated in a private paediatric dental practice and who presented for follow-up after at least 24 months were included in the study. The parameters recorded at baseline and/or at follow-up were: habits, the number and location of the decayed surfaces, colour, texture, and chipping of the restoration. Radiographic evaluation of the restorations, the quality of the margins, and the presence of pulpal and/or periapical pathoses were recorded. More than 80% of the restorations were judged to be successful at the final follow-up examination. Only the number of carious surfaces of the tooth at baseline influenced the treatment outcome. The failure rate was higher in central incisors with four affected surfaces (P = 0.005), and in lateral incisors with four carious surfaces (P = 0.0003), than in those presenting one or two carious surfaces in both central and lateral incisors (P = 0.002). The high success rate of resin-bonded composite strip crowns with a 2-year follow-up seen in this study suggests that this treatment modality is an aesthetic and satisfactory means of restoring carious primary incisors in young children. The retention rate is lower in teeth with decay in three or more surfaces, particularly in children with a high caries risk.