[Amalgam and composite restorations: reasons for placement and replacement]

A survey, in order to ascertain the reasons for placement and replacement of amalgam and composite restorations was made with the consent of the Italian Academy of Conservative Dentistry. 62 dentists answered the questionnaire, analysing their daily restorative work for two weeks: a total of 2,960 restorations were scored. The results show a prevalence of the primary caries over the replacements, and a prevalence of the secondary caries over the remaining reasons for replacement. Both data possibly mean the need for a more preventive approach to dental caries in Italy, even if the results fit fairly well into the values of the international research.