Longevity of occlusally-stressed restorations in posterior primary teeth.
OBJECTIVE
To compile a survey of the longevity and reasons for failure of stainless steel crowns, amalgam, glass-ionomer, composite and compomer restorations in stress-bearing cavities of primary molars.


METHODS
This work reviewed the dental literature of 1971 up to July 2003 for longitudinal, controlled clinical studies and retrospective cross-sectional studies. Only studies investigating the clinical performance of restorations in primary teeth with an observation period of at least 2 years were included. Annual failure rates of stainless steel crowns, amalgam, glass-ionomer, composite and compomer restorations were determined and failure reasons were discussed.


RESULTS
Annual failure rates in stress-bearing cavities of primary molars were determined to be: 0-14% for stainless steel crowns, 0-35.3% for amalgam restorations, 0-25.8% for glass-ionomer restorations, 2-29.1% for atraumatic restorative treatments, 0-15% for composite restorations, and 0-11 for compomer restorations. Main reasons for failure were secondary caries, marginal deficiencies, fracture, and wear.
Hickel
Reinhard
R
Department of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Goethe Strasse 70, D-80336 Munich, Germany. hickel@dent.med.uni-muenchen.de
Kaaden
Christoph
C
Paschos
Ekaterini
E
Buerkle
Verena
V
García-Godoy
Franklin
F
Manhart
Juergen
J
D020770:Compomers; D003188:Composite Resins; D003442:Crowns; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D020770:Compomers; D003188:Composite Resins; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D003723:Dental Amalgam