Longevity of the tooth/restoration complex: a review

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Dentists offer diverse materials for tooth restoration.
• Patient-dentist collaboration is crucial for selecting restorative approaches.
• Informed consent requires understanding material indications, contraindications, and manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing the long-term prognosis of the tooth/restoration complex.
• To delineate variables affecting restorative treatment success.
• To highlight factors that decrease the prognosis of dental restorations.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical trials and literature on restorative dentistry.
• Analysis of variables impacting dental restoration longevity.
• Identification of dentist-controlled and uncontrolled factors affecting treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Restoration prognosis depends on a complex interplay of factors, not solely the restorative material.
• The amount of remaining tooth structure significantly influences long-term prognosis.
• Many clinical trials yield few unambiguous answers, emphasizing an "it depends" approach.

Conclusions:

• The tooth/restoration complex must be viewed holistically for longevity prediction.
• Dentist's expertise in material handling and patient education are vital.
• Understanding all influencing variables is essential for predicting dental restoration success.