Reasons for placement and replacement of amalgam restorations in Jordan

Aims: To record the reasons for placement and replacement of amalgam restor ations in Jordan, to determine the use of amalgam restorations in common ca vity types and to collect data on the age of the replaced amalgam restorati ons. Subjects and setting: Dentists in Jordan (n = 241), Method: Cross-sect ional study using postal survey backed up with personal contact. Data was r ecorded for all restorations placed or replaced over a period of one month. Results: Information was collected on 3,166 restorations from patients age d 9 to 66 years. Of all restorations, 54.8% were first time placements whil e 45.2% were replacements of old restorations. The major reason for the fir st time restorations was primary caries, while that for replacement was sec ondary caries (28.5%) followed by broken and lost restorations (20.4%), roo t canal therapy (17%), tooth fracture (12%), pain or sensitivity (8.8%), po or margins (8.5%). Conclusions: In Jordan, the main reason for first placem ent of amalgam restoration is primary caries, the main reason for replaceme nt is secondary caries.