Methods: The participants were recruited by practitioners belonging to the Dental Practice-Based Research Network (www.DentalPBRN.org). Consecutive patients receiving a repair or replacement of an existing restoration were asked to complete and mail a patient satisfaction questionnaire to the regional center the day following the dental visit. Once the patient questionnaire was received, participants were either mailed a $10 incentive card or received a gift bag of the same value. The survey asked patients to rate their satisfaction with various aspects of the dental restoration visit. Multivariable regressions were used to test hypotheses; statistical models used generalized estimating equations that adjusted for clustering within practices.
Results: Complete data were available for 4,985 restorations across 101 dental practices in the United States. Dentists who were female (p<.001), in practice for a greater number of years (p=.004), had a fewer number of dental chairs (p=.021), and worked full-time (p=.002) received significantly higher ratings of overall satisfaction with all aspects of the restorative visit. Dentists who were full time (p=.008), in practice for a greater number of years (p=.001), and had a fewer number of chairs (p=.038) received significantly higher ratings of satisfaction with their technical ability as a dentist. None of the patient variables were significant. Satisfaction was lowest when the defective restoration involved secondary caries, an upper molar, or a combination of occlusal and buccal surfaces.
Conclusions: These results suggest that patients are most satisfied with dentists with many years of experience and in smaller practices. Support: DE-16746, DE-16747.