Tunnel restorations placed in routine practice and observed for 24 to 54 months.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and performance of tunnel restorations placed in routine public dental service.


METHODS
A total of 420 small approximal lesions received tunnel restorations 12 general practitioners. Three hundred two restorations in 179 patients were available for evaluation after a minimum period of 24 months. The restorations were evaluated by modified US Public Health Service criteria.


RESULTS
After service periods up to 54 months, 57% of the restorations were found to be clinically and radiographically acceptable. The remainder had already been replaced or were assessed as unacceptable. High levels of carious activity and internal-type preparations resulted in the poorest prognosis. The success rates varied considerably among the operators, but these differences did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The indications for use of the tunnel restoration technique for the treatment of primary approximal lesions seem to be limited at present. Partial tunnel restorations may have a somewhat better prognosis than the internal tunnels, but high carious activity has a detrimental effect. Tunnel restorations may be considered for particularly cooperative patients with a low caries rate as a semipermanent treatment for small lesions.
Strand
G V
GV
Department of Cariology, Faculty of Dentistry, Aarstadvn 17, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. gunhild.strand@odont.uib.no
Nordbø
H
H
Leirskar
J
J
von der Fehr
F R
FR
Eide
G E
GE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D019233:Retreatment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome