Comparison of treatment times for repair and replacement: A cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study analyzed and compared the treatment time for dental students to perform different restorative procedures (repair or replacement).

This study used secondary data from patients treated in a randomized controlled trial (CaCIA). The time (in minutes) was monitored by the operators/assistants, performed between 2016 and 2022. The operator's level during the procedures was categorized into third, fourth, and fifth years. Since procedure times were not normally distributed, non-parametric tests were applied: Mann-Whitney U for two-group comparisons (repair × replacement) and Kruskal-Wallis for comparisons across student years, followed by Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise Mann-Whitney tests when p < 0.05; 95 % confidence intervals for means were also calculated.

A total of 117 procedures were analyzed: 76 repairs (mean 110.2 ± 29.4 min) and 41 replacements (mean 128.4 ± 30.9 min). Repairs in molars averaged 109.2 ± 32.0 min, while replacements in molars averaged 130.9 ± 34.4 min, showing a significant difference (p = 0.015). Repairs averaged 112.2 ± 23.8 min for premolars, while replacements averaged 122.5 ± 20.1 min, with no significant difference observed (p = 0.248). Comparisons between third, fourth, and fifth student groups demonstrated significant differences in repair (p = 0.001) and replacement (p = 0.012) times, with final year students completing procedures faster.

Repairs require significantly less time than replacements, particularly for molars. Additionally, the variation in time required by students from different academic levels underscores the relevance of technical skills and experience in reducing procedural duration.

This study highlights the clinical advantages of repair over replacement in restorative dentistry, particularly regarding time efficiency. Repairs not only require less time than replacements, especially for molars, but also align with the principles of minimally invasive dentistry by preserving tooth structure.