The decision to repair or replace a defective restoration is affected by who placed the original restoration: findings from the National Dental PBRN
Available online 16 September 2014
Abstract
Objectives
To
evaluate how restoration characteristics are associated with the
decision to repair or replace an existing restoration. The following
hypotheses were studied: Dentists who placed the original restoration
are more likely to repair instead of replace restorations (H1) that are
in molar teeth; (H2) that are in the upper arch; (H3) that have amalgam
restorative material; (H4) if a fracture is not the primary reason for
the defect; and (H5) when the restoration comprises more than one
surface.
Methods
This
cross-sectional study used a consecutive patient/restoration recruitment
design. 194 dentists members of a dental practice-based research
network recorded data on restorations in permanent teeth that needed
repair or replacement.
Results
For
6,623 of the 8,770 defective restorations in 6,643 patients, the
treatment was provided by the dentist who had not placed the original
restoration (75%). The 2-way interaction revealed that dentists who had
placed the original restoration often chose to repair when the defective
restoration was in a molar, relative to premolar or anterior teeth
(OR = 2.2, p < .001); and chose to replace when the restoration had
amalgam (OR = 0.5, p < .001), and when it was a fracture compared to
another reason (OR = 0.8, p = 001).
Conclusion
Most
dentists are not conservative when they revisit a restoration that they
originally placed regardless of type of failure, number of surfaces or
material used. However, dentists who had placed
the original restoration were significantly more likely to repair it
when the defective restoration was in a molar tooth.
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