Factors Affecting the Placement and Replacement of Dental Restorations

Objectives: The objective was to verify the reasons for placement and replacement of direct restorations in patients treated in the polyclinic of the Uberaba University, Brazil.

Methods: The reasons for the placement or replacement of dental direct restorations were assessed in 150 clinical procedures carried out on patients treated in the polyclinic of the Uberaba University. The clinical case were diagnosed by the professors and the restorative treatments were done by the final year undergraduate students in a 4-week period. The students filled a form that contained information about the patient’s gender, tooth number, the classification of restorations, the reasons for placement and replacement of amalgam and tooth-colored restorations, the material that had to be removed and the new material used to fill the cavities. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test (α=0.05).

Results: The statistical analysis showed that most of the patients were female (66.7 %). Of all the restorations placed, 68 % were first-time placements, while 32% were replacements. For first-time restorations, the main reason for placement was primary caries (80 %), followed by noncarious cervical lesions (12.05 %). The primary reason for replacement was the presence of secondary caries (43.73 %) (p < 0.05). The amalgam restorations were replaced more frequently (62.8 %). The resin composite was statistically the most indicated material (98 %) for the placement and replacement of restorations (p < 0.05). 

Conclusions: First-time placements were the main reason for performing direct restorations. In almost all cases, the material used to fill the cavities was the resin composite.