Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: amalgam.

Background: Amalgam is a common filling material for posterior teeth, as with any restoration amalgams have a finite life-span. Traditionally replacement was the ideal approach to treat defective amalgam restorations, however, repair offers an alternative more conservative approach where restorations are only partially defective. Repairing a restoration has the potential of taking less time and may sometimes be performed without the use of local anaesthesia hence it may be less distressing for a patient when compared with replacement.

Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: resin composite.

Background: Composite filling materials have been increasingly used for the restoration of posterior teeth in recent years as a tooth-coloured alternative to amalgam. As with any filling material composites have a finite life-span. Traditionally, replacement was the ideal approach to treat defective composite restorations, however, repairing composites offers an alternative more conservative approach to the tooth structure where restorations are partly still serviceable.

Are general dental practitioners providing best practice in prevention in everyday general practice?

Aims: To discover whether general dental practitioners are providing best practice in prevention, as defined by the 'Delivering Better Oral Health' toolkit, in everyday general practice.

Method: A questionnaire was created with five scenarios describing the key findings of the examination of five hypothetical patients. Dentists attending a postgraduate meeting were asked to list all the preventive treatment and advice they would give each patient.

Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: resin composite.

Background: Composite filling materials have been increasingly used for the restoration of posterior teeth in recent years as a tooth coloured alternative to amalgam. As with any filling material composites have a finite life-span. Traditionally, replacement was the ideal approach to treat defective composite restorations, however, repairing composites offers an alternative more conservative approach where restorations are partly still serviceable.

Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: amalgam.

Background: Amalgam is a common filling material for posterior teeth, as with any restoration amalgams have a finite life-span. Traditionally replacement was the ideal approach to treat defective amalgam restorations, however, repair offers an alternative more conservative approach where restorations are only partially defective. Repairing a restoration has the potential of taking less time and may sometimes be performed without the use of local anaesthesia hence it may be less distressing for a patient when compared with replacement.