From amalgam to composite: selection of restorative materials and restoration longevity in Finland

The aim of this study was to obtain information on restorative dental care in Finland and to analyze the changes in treatment over a 5-year period. A random sample of dentists was drawn from die registers of the health author ities and the dental association in Finland, and in the spring of 1997 a qu estionnaire was sent requesting the dentists ru record information for each restoration placed during a given period. A total of 1,229 dentists were c ontacted, and 659 responded. The dentists treated 5,305 adults during the s tudy period and placed 6,322 restorations. The most common restorative mate rial was composite resin, which was used in 74.9% of the restorations, wher eas amalgam was used in 4.8% and glass ionomers in 9.4% of the restorations . The median ages of failed restorations were nearly 12 years for amalgam, slightly less than 5 years for composite, and slightly more than 4 years fo r glass ionomer. The results indicate that clinical dentistry in Finland ha s made a definite step towards the post-amalgam era. However, the functiona l periods of the failed tooth-colored restorations were disappointingly sho rt and warrant some serious consideration.