[Clinicostatistical study of the reasons for placing and replacing restorations]

This article presents the results of a clinical study conducted in the department of Operative Dentistry of the University of Athens. The reasons for placing and replacing restorations, the restorative material used, patient's age and sex, teeth and surfaces involved and age of replaced restorations were the variables studied in 1520 restorations. The results revealed that 53.2% of the restorations were placed for the first time. 92.6% of the new restorations were placed due to primary caries. Secondary caries were the reasons for the 35% of the replaced with amalgam restorations. Secondary caries and color mismatch were the reasons for the 25% and 23.2% respectively of the replaced with composite restorations.