IADR Abstract Archives
Contemporary dental practice in New Zealand: indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the selection and use of materials and techniques for indirect restorations and fixed prosthodontics by general dental practitioners in New Zealand.
Methods: A questionnaire comprising of 19 sections and 125 questions was distributed via mail to 351 general dentists in New Zealand who were selected from the Dental Council of New Zealand’s 2016 register.
Results: The majority of the respondents (68.8%, n=129) reported using resin composite light-cured materials for the core build-up of vital posterior teeth, with amalgam (40.6%, n=77) and resin composite dual-cured (36.5%, n=68) as preferred alternatives. For the dentists who still use dentine pins, stainless steel pins were preferred by 32.6% (n=60). However, a large number of respondents (52%, n=98) do not use pins, and the majority of them (25%) have graduated between 1-10 years ago. Fibre posts were used by 61.6% of the practitioners surveyed. The majority of practitioners (n= 105; 54.6%) reported using addition cured silicone for crown and bridge work. This was the most preferred impression material among urban practitioners compared to suburban and rural practitioners with results being statistically significant (X2=9.480; p<0.05). Glass-ionomer cements (37.5%) and resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (35.8%) were the most common luting cements used. Direct resin composite veneers was the preferred choice of material for indirect restoration of anterior teeth (40.4%, n=77). Ceramic (57.7%, n=108) was the preferred material for tooth coloured inlays and onlays in posterior teeth.
Conclusions: Light cured resin composite is the preferred material for the core build-up of vital posterior teeth; dentine pins are still used widely, but not by recent graduates; fibre posts are extensively used by practitioners in NZ; addition cured silicone is the most commonly used impression material; glass-ionomer cements are still the most widely used luting cements; direct resin composite veneers are still the preferred materials for indirect restoration of anterior teeth.
Methods: A questionnaire comprising of 19 sections and 125 questions was distributed via mail to 351 general dentists in New Zealand who were selected from the Dental Council of New Zealand’s 2016 register.
Results: The majority of the respondents (68.8%, n=129) reported using resin composite light-cured materials for the core build-up of vital posterior teeth, with amalgam (40.6%, n=77) and resin composite dual-cured (36.5%, n=68) as preferred alternatives. For the dentists who still use dentine pins, stainless steel pins were preferred by 32.6% (n=60). However, a large number of respondents (52%, n=98) do not use pins, and the majority of them (25%) have graduated between 1-10 years ago. Fibre posts were used by 61.6% of the practitioners surveyed. The majority of practitioners (n= 105; 54.6%) reported using addition cured silicone for crown and bridge work. This was the most preferred impression material among urban practitioners compared to suburban and rural practitioners with results being statistically significant (X2=9.480; p<0.05). Glass-ionomer cements (37.5%) and resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (35.8%) were the most common luting cements used. Direct resin composite veneers was the preferred choice of material for indirect restoration of anterior teeth (40.4%, n=77). Ceramic (57.7%, n=108) was the preferred material for tooth coloured inlays and onlays in posterior teeth.
Conclusions: Light cured resin composite is the preferred material for the core build-up of vital posterior teeth; dentine pins are still used widely, but not by recent graduates; fibre posts are extensively used by practitioners in NZ; addition cured silicone is the most commonly used impression material; glass-ionomer cements are still the most widely used luting cements; direct resin composite veneers are still the preferred materials for indirect restoration of anterior teeth.