Changing provision of restorative services in Australia

As restorative services are major components of service distributions, changes in their level of provision could have considerable impact on dental practice. The aims of this study were to compare the number and types of restorative and related services provided in 1983 and 1988. A weighted, stratified random sample of dentists in Australia was surveyed in 1983 (n = 730, response rate 73%) and 1988 (n = 855, response rate 75%). In both 1983 and 1988 the majority of restorative services provided consisted of amalgams and resin composites. The number of fissure sealants, crowns and one-surface glass ionomers increased significantly between 1983 and 1988 while there were decreased numbers of one- and two-surface amalgams, and one-surface resin composites. Trends by patient age between 1983 and 1988 showed that for younger patients there were decreased numbers of amalgams, three-surface glass ionomers, and one- and two-surface resin composites, while there were increased numbers of one-surface glass ionomers and fissure sealants. Older patients had increased numbers of crowns, one- and three-surface amalgams, glass ionomers, and three-surface resin composites. These results demonstrate a shift in the types of restorative services and materials provided over time and between different age groups of patients.