Randomized Clinical Trial of ART Class II Restorations Using Two Glass Ionomer Cements: One-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the survival rate of ART (atraumatic restorative treatment) Class II restorations in primary teeth, performed with glass carbomer cement and a high-viscosity glass ionomer cement, after 12 months. METHODS: One pediatric dentist placed 59 Class II ART restorations in 33 children (eight plus/minus two years old) of both genders. Two calibrated examiners, blinded to the type of material and not involved in the placement, evaluated the restorations at baseline, six, and 12 months. RESULTS: The overall success rate (95 percent confidence interval) at the six-month follow-up for the GP Glass Fill and Equia Fil was 69 percent (51 to 83) and 83 percent (66 to 93), respectively. No significant difference was detected between the study groups (Fisher's exact test, P=0.20). However, at 12 months, the overall success rates of both materials were 56 percent (37 to 73) and 86 percent (69 to 94), and this difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Class II ART restorations with glass carbomer showed lower survival rates after 12 months compared to those with high-viscosity glass ionomer cement.

Tratamento restaurador atraumático: percepção dos dentistas e aplicabilidade na atenção primária / Atraumatic restorative treatment: dentists’perceptions and its potential use in primary care

Este estudo identificou a aplicabilidade do Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático (ART) na Atenção Primária à Saúde no Paraná. Aplicou-se um questionário a 97 profissionais de 85 municípios (54,6% dentistas; 28,9% gestores). A maioria utiliza restaurações atraumáticas (76,0%), mas só 12,4% receberam capacitação e a indicação preferencial é dentes decíduos. Pontos positivos: maior número de restaurações realizadas (64,4%) e percepção positiva dos profissionais (49,3%). Barreiras: falta de treinamento (50,5%) e preferência por restaurações convencionais (49,5%). Concluiu-se que, mesmo reconhecendo benefícios, o ART é subutilizado na Atenção Primária à Saúde, sendo necessários programas de educação continuada.

This research identified the applicability of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) in Primary Health Care in Paraná. A questionnaire was applied to 97 professionals from 85 cities (54,6% dentists; 28,9% managers). Most of them use atraumatic restorations (76,0%), although only 12,4% received training. The main indication is for deciduous teeth. The positive aspects pointed were the possibility of carrying on a larger number of restorations (64,4%) and a positive perception of ART (49,3%). The barriers were the lack of training (50,5%) a nd the preference for conventional restorations (49,5%). It was concluded that even recognizing the benefits, ART is underused in Primary Health Care and training programs are necessary.