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Use of Amalgam and Composite Restorations Among 12-Year-Old Children in Israel: A Retrospective Study
Rimah Nassar1, Tali Chackartchi2, Haim Doron3
1Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University and Hadassah, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Background:
This study examined the trends in restorative dental practice among 12-year-old children treated at a nationwide public health maintenance organization in Israel between 2016 and 2022, focusing on the use of amalgam versus composite resin restorations in permanent premolars and molars.
Methods:
Data were extracted from electronic health records of the second-largest public health organization in Israel, identifying children who underwent restorative treatments during the study period. Restoration rates were compared overall and stratified by gender, socioeconomic status, and number of surfaces restored. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, employing Levene's test for equality of variances and Welch's one-way ANOVA.
Results:
The results showed a statistically significant decline in amalgam use (p < 0.05) alongside a marked increase in composite resin restorations (p < 0.05), consistent across genders and socioeconomic groups. Notably, composite resins were increasingly selected for complex, multi-surface restorations (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
These findings highlight a substantial shift in paediatric restorative practice in Israel, reflecting growing preference for composite resins likely influenced by patient demands and national dental reforms that eliminated financial barriers. The observed trend underscores the importance of continued monitoring of material selection to guide evidence-based practice in pediatric dentistry.
