Restoration of the contact surfaces and contact points of the posterior teeth from the practical dentists' point of view: A questionnaire survey
BACKGROUND: Increasing the efficiency of the restoration of the contact surfaces of the posterior teeth by considering age-related characteristics in performing direct aesthetic restoration with composite materials remains an urgent task of modern dentistry, requiring a comprehensive analysis of existing problems. AIM: To assess the attitude of practitioners to the restoration of the contact points of the lateral teeth by direct composite restoration and the level of their practical and theoretical preparedness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey of 376 practical dentists conducting therapeutic reception of adult patients (“therapeutic dentistry” and “general dentistry”) was conducted: 238 dentists took part in the face-to-face survey and 138 dentists in the online survey. RESULT: The restoration of the contact points during the treatment of patients with caries of the contact surfaces of the lateral teeth by direct composite restoration causes significant difficulties for practical dentists: 70.4±2.36% (p <0.005) of the respondents feel uncertain about the success of this manipulation, 14.4±1.77% regularly experience problems while performing this manipulation, 18.1±1.98% noted frequent or constant dissatisfaction with the results of their work after the restoration of the contact points of the posterior teeth, 76.2±2.19% (p <0.005) have information about age-related changes in the shape and topography of the contact points, 46.5±2.57% indicated the absence of methods and tools that allow to reproduce in clinical conditions the age-related features of the shape and topography of contact points, and 72.9±2.29% (p <0.005) prefer, if possible, not to take responsibility for the final outcomes of this manipulation. CONCLUSION: Studies aimed at developing methods for restoring the age characteristics of contact points in treating patients with caries on the contact surfaces of the posterior teeth using aesthetic restoration with composite materials are necessary.