Factors associated with postoperative sensitivity of amalgam restorations.
Postoperative sensitivity is a common clinical problem with restorative treatments.


OBJECTIVE
To identify factors that may be predictive of reported postoperative sensitivity to cold following placement of class I and II amalgam restorations in primary carious lesions.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty patients were recruited. Patients were telephoned on days two and seven postoperatively and asked about sensitivity to cold and its intensity. If sensitivity remained up to day seven, patients were also contacted on days 30 and 90.


RESULTS
Of the 51 teeth that had sensitivity at day two, 17 experienced mild pain, 26 were moderately painful and eight had severe pain. The percentage of females experiencing postoperative sensitivity was higher than that of males at days two, seven and 30 (P=0.000, 0.016 and 0.028, respectively). Younger patients reported significantly more postoperative sensitivity than older ones at day two (P=0.010) but not at days seven and 30 (P=0.157 and 0.877). Postoperative sensitivity did not differ among the different tooth types at days two, seven and 30 (P=0.219, 0.236 and 0.338, respectively), nor with respect to class I and class II cavities at days two, seven and 30 (P=0.219, 0.769 and 0.259, respectively). Patients who had some pre-operative pain had significantly more postoperative sensitivity (P=0.000, 0.000, and 0.004 at days two, seven and 30, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Regression analysis suggested that younger patients, females, and pre-operative sensitivity to cold might be predictive of postoperative sensitivity following placement of amalgam restorations.
Al-Omari
Qasem D
QD
Department of Restorative Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Al-Omari
Wael M
WM
Omar
Ridwaan
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003736:Dental Cavity Lining; D003764:Dental Materials; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012116:Resins, Plant; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014098:Toothache / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
C113175:Consepsis; D003764:Dental Materials; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D012116:Resins, Plant; C115612:single bond; C067790:Vitrabond; C023806:Copalite; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; D003723:Dental Amalgam; C040408:Life (dental material); D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine