Restorative materials used on primary teeth: a comparative study between two European universities: Nice and Amsterdam.

ABSTRACT

A descriptive retrospective survey was carried in two European dental schools (UNSA - Nice and ACTA - Amsterdam), in order to compare the restorative materials used in deciduous dentition. Examination of 460 patient files showed that age and sex distribution among children in both cities was comparable. The dft scores were also comparable but the number of decayed teeth was higher in Nice (4.61 +/- 2.68) than in Amsterdam (2.86 +/- 2.30). In Nice, composite resins, compomers and glass ionomers were all used in deciduous anterior teeth whereas only compomers were used in Amsterdam. As far as deciduous molars were concerned, composite resins and amalgams were used on small and large cavities respectively in Nice whereas in Amsterdam, compomers were once again preferred.