Abstract
Aims: To investigate the reasons for replacement of composite restorations northern Iraq. Method: Seventy general dental practitioners (GDP) were recruited by personal contact, and asked to provide data on consecutive composite restorations they replaced for adult patients (ranged from 14-year-old to 60 years) over an eight-month period. In addition, a cross-sectional survey was carried out over eight months at the undergraduate student clinics of a University Dental Hospital (DS). The data was analyzed using SPSS software with significance set at p≤0.05. Results: Of the performed 1,338 restoration replacements. The types of restorative materials were 395 (30%) were amalgam, 929 (69%) were composite and 14 (1%) were glass ionomers (GIC). Secondary caries was the most diagnosed failure reason for the replacement of composite restorations (32%), which were more in class II cavities (47%). Conclusion: The study exposed different features of the restorative practice in the north of Iraq. The evidences are of importance that the everyday restorative practice will be analyzed by academics to make a progression in the dental services in Iraq.
