[A long-term study of amalgam and composite fillings]

549 amalgam and 257 composite fillings, which were made by students, were reexamined. The functional loss of restorations was recorded and present fillings were assessed regarding marginal integrity, anatomy, surface condition and colour as referred to composite fillings. After 2-4 years of wear 90.3% of the amalgam fillings were still present, the percentage for 5-8 years-old amalgams was 88.5% and for 9-11 years-old amalgams 85.3%. Composite fillings were substituted or lost at a rate of 7.1% after 2-4 years, 10.8% after 5-8 years and 10.5% after 9-11 years.