Factors influencing long-term restoration survival in three private dental practices in Adelaide

Very little is known of dentist and patient factors which may influence the survival or longevity of dental restorative materials placed in private practices. The present retrospective study investigated during 1992 the effects of six factors on the long-term survivals of five types of restorations placed by 20 male dentists in 100 adult patients, at 3 selected Adelaide dental practices. There were no significant effects on restoration survival from change, of dentist, and generally only one or two types of restorations had their survivals influenced significantly either by dental practice location, or by patient age, frequency of patient attendance, experience of dentist, and whether or not the restorations were replacements during the study period. Restoration survival was not influenced significantly by whether, or not, any replacements were made by the dentist who placed the initial restorations. The median survival times for amalgams were 22.52 years, resin composites 16.72 years, castings 13.75 years, and crowns an estimated 26 years. For glass-ionomers, 75 per cent were still present at 11.25 years.