Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Detection and Removal of Tooth-Colored Composite Resin Using the Fluorescence-Aided Identification Technique
Published on: July 27, 2022
12-year survival of composite vs. amalgam restorations
N J M Opdam1, E M Bronkhorst, B A C Loomans
1College of Dental Science, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, NL 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. n.opdam@dent.umcn.nl
Abstract:
Information about the long-term clinical survival of large amalgam and composite restorations is still lacking. This retrospective study compares the longevity of three- and four-/five-surface amalgam and composite restorations relative to patients' caries risk. Patient records from a general practice were used for data collection. We evaluated 1949 large class II restorations (1202 amalgam/747 composite). Dates of placement, replacement, and failure were recorded, and caries risk of patients was assessed. Survival was calculated from Kaplan-Meier statistics. After 12 years, 293 amalgam and 114 composite restorations had failed. Large composite restorations showed a higher survival in the combined population and in the low-risk group. For three-surface restorations in high-risk patients, amalgam showed better survival.
