Methods: This cross-sectional study used a consecutive patient/restoration recruitment design. Practitioners recorded data for 50 or more enrolled restorations that needed repair or replacement on permanent teeth. Investigators completed a data collection form that among other outcome variables inquired about the primary reason for repair or replacement of the restoration, patients’ characteristics and whether or not the same dentist had placed the original restoration.
Results: 187 practitioners gathered data on 9,875 restorations from 7,502 patients. The most common reasons for repair or replacement of restorations was secondary caries (43%, n=3590), followed by restoration fracture (28%, n=1326), and ditched margin (8%, n=656). The results of multiple logistic regression indicated that when secondary caries was the primary reason for the treatment, dentists were nearly 1.5 times more likely to perform a repair (p < .001) than a replacement. When the significant interaction (p = .01) between the dentist who placed the restoration and secondary caries variables was decomposed, secondary caries was a stronger predictor of a repair when the same dentist did not place the original restoration (OR = 1.8, p < .001) than when they had placed the original restoration (OR = 1.3, p < .001).
Conclusion: The presence of secondary caries affected dentists’ decision to either repair or replace restorations. Dentists were more likely to repair restorations when secondary caries was the main reason for treatment and if they had not placed them initially. Support: DE-16746, DE-16747, DE-22516.