title: Restorative treatment thresholds: factors influencing the treatment thresholds and modalities of general dentists in Kuwait.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the thresholds at which general dentists in Kuwait would restore approximal and occlusal carious lesions and examined the demographic characteristics of the dentists in relation to their decision making.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of a random sample of 185 general dentists practicing in the Ministry of Health of Kuwait. A survey questionnaire was administered. The questionnaire presented different stages and locations of carious lesions; the participants were asked to identify the stage at which a restoration is required under different conditions, the preparation technique, and their choice of restorative material.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For approximal carious lesions, 74 (40%) of the participants reported that they would restoratively intervene when the carious lesion reached the outer third of the dentin. A total of 91 (49.2%) reported the use of traditional class II restorations. For occlusal carious lesions, 128 (69.2%) said they would intervene when lesions reached the middle third of the dentin. 146 (78.9%) said they would remove the carious tissue only in their preparation. For both approximal and occlusal lesions, the participants preferred resin composite as the material for restoration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The respondents tended to delay restorative intervention until dentinal penetration of the caries. Resin restorative materials were used in conservatively prepared cavities. Participants chose a conservative approach for occlusal lesions but still believed in a traditional approach when it concerned approximal lesions. Experience, university dental education, and participation in continuous education courses were most significantly related to restorative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Mai E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Khalaf
authors.forename: Qasem D
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Alomari
authors.forename: Hien
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doméjean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors