Biomaterial Database

Qualitative and quantitative determination of dental amalgam restoration volume. 1999

D A Covey, and D K Kent, and D G Dunning, and S Koka

College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln 68583-0750, USA. Dcovey@unmc.edu

BACKGROUND Volume of tooth structure replaced by an existing restoration, as assessed by visual and radiographic examination, is one diagnostic measure used by dental practitioners and dental insurance agencies to determine the relative need to restore a tooth with a full-coverage cast restoration. However, use of these methods has not been validated. OBJECTIVE This study compared the volume of a range of dental amalgam restorations placed in typodont teeth, as estimated by dentists, dental students and laypersons, with the actual volume of each restoration. METHODS Sixty subjects (20 dental school faculty, 20 dental students, and 20 clerical staff [laypersons]) participated. After reviewing photographic images of typodont teeth with mesial-occlusal-distal dental amalgam restorations, subjects estimated the volume of each restoration using various restorations on different teeth as a percentage of its tooth's coronal volume. The actual volume of each dental amalgam restoration and that of the coronal portion of the prepared teeth was calculated with a volumetric displacement technique. The single sample 2-sided t test with a.05 level of significance was used to evaluate the null hypothesis (H0 ): The survey participant's estimates of each restoration's percentage volume are the same as the measured volume values versus the alternative hypothesis (H1 ): estimates differed from the measured volume values. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of any difference between the estimates of the 3 survey test groups. RESULTS Average volumes reported by all 3 groups were significantly different than the measured volume values (P <.05). Experience and dental training did not significantly affect a participant's ability to evaluate restoration volumes with greater accuracy. Results reported by dentists, dental students, and laypersons were not significantly different (P >.05). CONCLUSIONS The volume of a restoration is inaccurately assessed by visual and radiographic examination.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008963	Molar	The most posterior teeth on either side of the jaw, totaling eight in the deciduous dentition (2 on each side, upper and lower), and usually 12 in the permanent dentition (three on each side, upper and lower). They are grinding teeth, having large crowns and broad chewing surfaces. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p821)	Molars
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003723	Dental Amalgam	An alloy used in restorative dentistry that contains mercury, silver, tin, copper, and possibly zinc.	Amalgam, Dental,Amalgams, Dental,Dental Amalgams
D003737	Dental Cavity Preparation	An operation in which carious material is removed from teeth and biomechanically correct forms are established in the teeth to receive and retain restorations. A constant requirement is provision for prevention of failure of the restoration through recurrence of decay or inadequate resistance to applied stresses. (Boucher's Clinical Dental Terminology, 4th ed, p239-40)	Cavity Preparation, Dental,Cavity Preparations, Dental,Dental Cavity Preparations,Preparation, Dental Cavity,Preparations, Dental Cavity
D003793	Dental Restoration, Permanent	A restoration designed to remain in service for not less than 20 to 30 years, usually made of gold casting, cohesive gold, or amalgam. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)	Dental Fillings, Permanent,Dental Filling, Permanent,Dental Permanent Filling,Dental Permanent Fillings,Dental Restorations, Permanent,Filling, Dental Permanent,Filling, Permanent Dental,Fillings, Dental Permanent,Fillings, Permanent Dental,Permanent Dental Filling,Permanent Dental Fillings,Permanent Dental Restoration,Permanent Dental Restorations,Permanent Filling, Dental,Permanent Fillings, Dental,Restoration, Permanent Dental,Restorations, Permanent Dental
D003815	Dentists	Individuals licensed to practice DENTISTRY.	Dentists, Pediatric,Dentists, Prosthetic,Dentists, Restorative,Periodontists,Prosthodontists,Dentist,Dentist, Pediatric,Dentist, Prosthetic,Dentist, Restorative,Pediatric Dentist,Pediatric Dentists,Periodontist,Prosthetic Dentist,Prosthetic Dentists,Prosthodontist,Restorative Dentist,Restorative Dentists
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000704	Analysis of Variance	A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable.	ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses
D001641	Bicuspid	One of the eight permanent teeth, two on either side in each jaw, between the canines (CUSPID) and the molars (MOLAR), serving for grinding and crushing food. The upper have two cusps (bicuspid) but the lower have one to three. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p822)	Premolar,Bicuspids,Premolars
D013335	Students, Dental	Individuals enrolled a school of dentistry or a formal educational program in leading to a degree in dentistry.	Dental Student,Dental Students,Student, Dental