Survival of Fuji IX ART fillings in permanent teeth of primary school children in Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical performance of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) fillings using Fuji IX as a filling material in field conditions.


METHODS
Longitudinal study of the ART fillings in permanent teeth of primary school children aged eight to fifteen years.


METHODS
Primary schools in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.


METHODS
Standard 3 and 4 children in five primary schools randomly selected from a list of 36 primary schools of Morogoro municipality were examined for dental caries and periodontal conditions. All 296 carious lesions that were indicated for restoration were treated using ART approach according to the instructions given in the manual for ART approach for the control of dental caries. Essential measurements for treated teeth and cavity were taken. The cavities were filled with Fuji IX glass ionomer cement as per manufacturer's instructions. After one year, 238 restorations were evaluated using the criteria for evaluating ART restorations.


METHODS
Clinical appearance of the surface of the restorations.


RESULTS
Ninety four per cent of the restorations evaluated were rated as good and intact, while 1.7% were rated as having slight defects that needed no repair, giving a one year survival rate of 96.1%. Mean working time was 14.5 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
The one-year survival rate of 96.1% is high enough to recommend wide use of ART in Tanzania. Town and municipal councils should be encouraged to adopt ART in their school oral health programmes.
Kikwilu
E N
EN
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Muhimbili University.
Mandari
G J
GJ
Honkala
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012571:School Dentistry; D012574:Schools; D013636:Tanzania; D013997:Time Factors
D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; C110713:fuji IX