Dental practitioners' experiences on the usefulness of restorative materials in Finland 1992-1996.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse general dentists' choice of restorative materials in Finland, where the use of amalgam has significantly decreased and the use of composites increased during the past 10 years.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Postal survey in 1997 to a random sample of general dental practitioners mainly working with adult patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Percentage distribution of dentists' opinions.

RESULTS

The response rate was 82%. Tooth-coloured restorations were considered to be more time consuming, technically complicated and to have shorter life spans. Most dentists were not willing to return to the wide-scale use of amalgam restorations.

CONCLUSIONS

The rapid changes in the restorative material selection have not resulted in serious problems in restorative therapy.