title: Dentist and practice characteristics associated with restorative treatment of enamel caries in permanent teeth: multiple-regression modeling of observational clinical data from the National Dental PBRN.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current evidence in dentistry recommends non-surgical treatment to manage enamel caries lesions. However, surveyed practitioners report they would restore enamel lesions that are confined to the enamel. Actual clinical data were used to evaluate patient, dentist, and practice characteristics associated with restoration of enamel caries, while accounting for other factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a National Dental Practice-Based Research Network observational study of consecutive restorations placed in previously unrestored permanent tooth surfaces and practice/demographic data from 229 participating network dentists were combined. ANOVA and logistic regression, using generalized estimating equations (GEE) and variable selection within blocks, were used to test the hypothesis that patient, dentist, and practice characteristics were associated with variations in enamel restorations of occlusal and proximal caries compared to dentin lesions, accounting for dentist and patient clustering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Network dentists from five regions placed 6,891 restorations involving occlusal and/or proximal caries lesions. Enamel restorations accounted for 16% of enrolled occlusal caries lesions and 6% of enrolled proximal caries lesions. Enamel occlusal restorations varied significantly (P < 0.05) by patient age and race/ethnicity, dentists' use of caries risk assessment, network region, and practice type. Enamel proximal restorations varied significantly (P < 0.05) by dentist race/ethnicity, network region, and practice type.
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fellows
authors.forename: Valeria V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gordan
authors.forename: Gregg H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: D Brad
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rindal
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Qvist
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Litaker
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flink
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pihlstrom
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003743:Dental Enamel; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003804:Dentin; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult