FACTORS INFLUENCING LONG-TERM RESTORATION SURVIVAL IN 3 PRIVATE DENTAL PRACTICES IN ADELAIDE

Very little is known of dentist and patient factors which may influenc e the survival or longevity of dental restorative materials placed in private practices. The present retrospective study investigated during 1992 the effects of six factors on the long-term survivals of five ty pes of restorations placed by 20 male dentists in 100 adult patients, at 3 selected Adelaide dental practices. There were no significant eff ects on restoration survival from change of dentist, and generally onl y one or two types of restorations had their survivals influenced sign ificantly either by dental practice location, or by patient age, frequ ency of patient attendance, experience of dentist, and whether or not the restorations were replacements during the study period. Restoratio n survival was not influenced significantly by whether, or not, any re placements were made by the dentist who placed the initial restoration s. The median survival times for amalgams were 22.52 years, resin comp osites 16.72 years, castings 13.75 years, and crowns an estimated 26 y ears. For glass-ionomers, 75 per cent were still present at 11.25 year s.