Dentists' restorative decision-making and implications for an 'amalgamless' profession. Part 4: clinical factor.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The Minamata Convention mandates reducing mercury use, impacting dental amalgam.
• This necessitates a shift in direct restorative material approaches.
• Limited research exists on clinical factors influencing dentists' material choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dentists' attitudes towards direct restorative materials.
• To understand the influence of clinical factors on material selection.
• To assess the impact of the Minamata Convention on dental practice.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to Australian Dental Association and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons members.
• Data from 408 respondents were statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Most dentists disagreed that amalgam is technically more difficult to place, place, or finish than resin composite.
• 83% of respondents were confident in placing amalgam.
• Moisture control and aesthetics were the most important factors in choosing direct restorative materials.

Conclusions:

• There is consensus that amalgam and resin composite have similar technical difficulty.
• Both materials have recognized limitations in physical properties.
• Clinical factors like moisture control, aesthetics, and minimally invasive techniques guide material selection.