[Frequency of dental cements application by general practitioners and prosthodontists in Tehran, 2004]

ABSTRACT

Nowadays various types of dental cements are used in fixed prosthetic treatments with different indications. On the other hand, these indications may be changed over a lot every day and new materials are being produced. The aim of this study was to determine the practice of dentists [included general practitioners and prosthodontists] about applications and manipulations of dental cements in fixed prosthetic treatments. The study was designed as a cross-sectional, descriptive method. Samples were 362 general practitioners [GP] and 32 [academic and non-academic staff] specialists worked in Great Tehran in 2004. Sampling was done in a simple random method. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions. After determining the validity of questionnaire, it's reliability was confirmed by means of a test-retest exam. Zinc phosphate was the most frequent cement in fixed partial denture restorations [FPDs] in non-vital teeth [54.4% of GPs and 51.3% of specialists]. In vital teeth, both in preparations near and distant to the pulp, polycarboxylate were used frequently by GPs [50.8% and 56.4%, respectively] and specialists [531% and 34.4%, respectively]. The most of dentists in both groups were using zinc oxide with eugenol in temporary restorations near the pulp [55.5% and 62.5%, respectively]. Zinc phosphate was frequently used for post and core cases [54.5% and 71.9%, respectively]. The choices of general practitioners were relatively similar to specialists