Choice Between Composite and Amalgam Restorations According to Dentists and Patients Perception

Abstract

Aims : The aim of the current study was to evaluate dentists and patients choices of type of restorative materials applied in fillings and their knowledge about the mercury content in amalgam restorations. Matrials and Methods: a cross sectional descriptive study based on two types of questionnaire, one for the dentists(119) and the other specific for the patients (500) were distributed to determine the knowledge and awareness, preference of amalgam and composite restorations. Results: showed that the awareness of the dentists about the amalgam controversy came from different sources, half of the dentists sample stated amalgam restorations were safe, were as 21% of the sample stated it unsafe. Placement of the selected restoration(either type) was influenced by different factors, recall appointments of patients complaining from several complaint was mostly from composite, 67.6 % of patients didn't have any knowledge about harmful effect of mercury release from amalgam with the majority of the patients stating that they preferred composite or a tooth colored restoration. Conclusion: within the limitations of this study awareness of safety of dental amalgam among the dentists was low, with a large agreement that postoperative complications were mainly due to composite restorations. For the patients, the majority of them did not know anything about issues related to the mercury content of the amalgam and the majority of them favored the placement of composite restoration similar to the color of their teeth.

Attitudes and Knowledge of dentists in Pakistan regarding the use of Dental Amalgam as a restorative material

“…16 Figure1: Preference of participants regarding amalgam Most common health risk associated with usage of dental amalgam was mercury toxicity followed by environmental hazard according to the males and females participants. These findings are in contrast with the previously conducted researches where nearly 68 % of the participants lacked knowledge regarding the mercury content within the amalgam restorations, similar findings were seen studies conducted in Iraq and Turkey 17,18,19 .…”

“…Likewise, in a previously conducted research patients were enquired regarding the type of restorations they favored 70% preferred tooth-colored restorations. 19,21 This can be attributed to the fact that nowadays esthetically sound appearance plays a crucial role in the selfesteem and success of an individual's hence people generally aims for cosmetic interventions.…”