title: Early failure of Class II resin composite versus Class II amalgam restorations placed by dental students.
abstract: Using the information from remake request slips in a dental school's predoctoral clinic, we examined the short-term survival of Class II resin composite restorations versus Class II dental amalgam restorations. In the student clinic, resin composite is used in approximately 58 percent of Class II restorations placed, and dental amalgam is used in the remaining 42 percent. In the period examined, Class II resin composite restorations were ten times more likely to be replaced at no cost to the patient than Class II dental amalgam restorations. A total of eighty-four resin composite restorations and six amalgam restorations were replaced due to an identified failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. overtonj@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Overton
authors.forename: Diane J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry*; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003792:Dental Records; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013335:Students, Dental
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D003723:Dental Amalgam