title: Two-year survival of ART restorations placed in elderly patients: A randomised controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Older dentate adults are a high caries risk group who could potentially benefit from the use of the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART). This study aimed to compare the survival of ART and a conventional restorative technique (CT) using rotary instruments and a resin-modified glass-ionomer for restoring carious lesions as part of a preventive and restorative programme for older adults after 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomised controlled clinical trial, 99 independently living adults (65-90 years) with carious lesions were randomly allocated to receive either ART or conventional restorations. The survival of restorations was assessed by an independent and blinded examiner 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after restoration placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six (67.6%) and 121 (76.6%) restorations were assessed in the ART and CT groups, respectively, after 2 years. The cumulative restoration survival percentages after 2 years were 85.4% in the ART and 90.9% in the CT group. No statistically significant between group differences were detected (p=0.2050, logistic regression analysis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of restoration survival, ART was as effective as a conventional restorative approach to treat older adults after 2 years. This technique could be a useful tool to provide dental care for older adults particularly in the non-clinical setting. (
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN 76299321).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that ART presented survival rates similar to conventional restorations in older adults. ART appears to be a cost-effective way to provide dental care to elderly patients, particularly in out of surgery facilities, such as nursing homes.
authors.affiliation: Cork University Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: cristmata@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: da Mata
authors.affiliation: Cork University Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: P Finbarr
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Dentistry, Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.affiliation: Centre for Policy Studies, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057087:Dental Atraumatic Restorative Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000379:methods*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atraumatic restorative treatment; Caries; Elderly; Partially dentate