Replacements of amalgam restorations - a study

The aim of this study was to register various reasons for replacement or repair of amalgam restorations of patients visiting a dental institution hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, and to compare the results of the present study with the international studies carried out on this subject. A cross sectional study on 123 patients, aged 10-60 years, visiting for the replacement or repair of their 210 amalgam restorations was carried out over a period of 10 months. These patients were examined clinically and radiographically to find out the reasons of the failed amalgam restorations which needed replacement or repair while the teeth were still vital and restorable. In 123 patients, 210 amalgam restorations were examined. Seven reasons were found responsible for replacement or repair of restorations; Secondary caries [37.61%], marginal degradation [22.38%], dislodgment of fillings [20.47%], poor anatomy restored [14.76%], fracture of filling's material [11.42%], macroleakage gap [5.71%] and fracture of teeth [3.80%] were found in 210 restorations. The failed restorations with single reason [85.72%] and combined reasons [14.28%] were also assessed in this study. Secondary caries was the most prevalent reason for replacement or repair, followed by marginal degradation. The results also showed that the failed restorations with one reason were dominant over the restorations with multiple reasons in this study