Anam Fayyaz, Mohammad Amber Fareed, Saroosh Ehsan, Qaiser Ali Baig, Nouman Ahmed Noor.
Repair or Replacement of Defective Direct Composite Restorations: a Survey of Dentists.
J Pak Dent Assoc Jan ;24(1):17-22.

OBJECTIVE: The criteria for repair of composite restorations are controversial. This study investigates the knowledge and the current practices of dental graduates about the repair of resin-based composites. METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire based survey was developed, seeking information about management (repair or replacement) of defective composite restorations and distributed among 200 dental graduates of four teaching dental hospitals in Lahore. RESULT:The decision to choose composite repair as a treatment option in clinical practice was influenced by whether it was taught at undergraduate level. Sixty one percent of graduates reported that they were not taught composite repair at dental undergraduate level, as a result only 18% of these respondents chose repair in their clinical practice as a treatment option. The preferred indication for composite repair was secondary caries (37%) (p=0.010) followed by partial loss of composite restoration (29.5%), fracture of composite (21%) and composite discoloration (12.5%). Large number of respondents (73%) agreed that repair increased longevity of a defective composite restoration. The results highlighted that knowledge and application of composite repair is significantly higher in experienced clinicians (p=0.003). Half of the participants considered that repair was less time consuming and 73% responder agreed that repair increased longevity of a previously restored defective composite restoration. CONCLUSION:This study demonstrated that knowledge about composite repair rather than replacement requires serious consideration at undergraduate level as majority of dental graduates are not familiar with the concept and implication of composite repair. Didactic and clinical training component regarding composite repair should be added in dental curriculum to inculcate the knowledge of repair of composite restorations.

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