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Tunnel restorations placed in routine practice and observed for 24 to 54 months
G V Strand1, H Nordbø, J Leirskar
1Department of Cariology, Faculty of Dentistry, Aarstadvn 17, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. gunhild.strand@odont.uib.no
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and performance of tunnel restorations placed in routine public dental service.
Method And Materials:
A total of 420 small approximal lesions received tunnel restorations 12 general practitioners. Three hundred two restorations in 179 patients were available for evaluation after a minimum period of 24 months. The restorations were evaluated by modified US Public Health Service criteria.
Results:
After service periods up to 54 months, 57% of the restorations were found to be clinically and radiographically acceptable. The remainder had already been replaced or were assessed as unacceptable. High levels of carious activity and internal-type preparations resulted in the poorest prognosis. The success rates varied considerably among the operators, but these differences did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion:
The indications for use of the tunnel restoration technique for the treatment of primary approximal lesions seem to be limited at present. Partial tunnel restorations may have a somewhat better prognosis than the internal tunnels, but high carious activity has a detrimental effect. Tunnel restorations may be considered for particularly cooperative patients with a low caries rate as a semipermanent treatment for small lesions.
