Dental practitioners' experiences on the usefulness of restorative materials in Finland 1992-1996.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse general dentists' choice of restorative materials in Finland, where the use of amalgam has significantly decreased and the use of composites increased during the past 10 years.


METHODS
Postal survey in 1997 to a random sample of general dental practitioners mainly working with adult patients.


METHODS
Percentage distribution of dentists' opinions.


RESULTS
The response rate was 82%. Tooth-coloured restorations were considered to be more time consuming, technically complicated and to have shorter life spans. Most dentists were not willing to return to the wide-scale use of amalgam restorations.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid changes in the restorative material selection have not resulted in serious problems in restorative therapy.
Widström
E
E
National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), Helsinki, Finland.
Forss
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003188:Composite Resins; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003188:Composite Resins; D003723:Dental Amalgam