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Background: Stainless-steel crowns (SSCs) are recommended for restorative treatment of young teeth severely affected by caries, fractures or dental developmental disorders (DDDs). However, despite recommendations and clinical evidence, SSCs are not widely used by general dentists, who favour extraction and more conventional restorations. The present study aimed to investigate the views of and use of SSCs among Norwegian and Finnish dentists. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional survey among Norwegian and Finnish dentists. An electronic questionnaire was sent to Norwegian and Finnish dentists asking whether they used SSCs and on which indications. In addition, the questionnaire assessed reasons for non-use and dentists' perceptions regarding advantages and challenges in the use of SSCs, as well as the need for additional training. Distributions of background characteristics, use of and views on SSCs were calculated, and statistical significance of the associations between respondents' background and their answers were evaluated. Results: Of the 574 Norwegian and 765 Finnish respondents, only 12.0% and 12.9% reported to use SSCs, respectively. The most frequently reported barrier reported by those who did not use SSCs was lack of practical training. The most frequent challenge reported by those using SSCs was difficulties in crown adjustment followed by aesthetic issues, and the most frequently reported advantage was that SSCs maintain the function and occlusion. The majority of respondents reported a need for more information and practical training in the use of SSCs, with hands-on course as their most frequently preferred education type. Conclusion: Although the value of SSCs for restoring young molars is recognized by Norwegian and Finnish dentists, SSCs are rarely used by general dentists. The majority of the respondents reported lack of training and materials and was interested in receiving more information and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary minimally invasive treatment concepts for restorative treatment of primary caries lesions include both delayed intervention and smaller-sized preparations restricted to removal of carious tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these concepts have resulted in a trend towards a more conservative choice made by dentists regarding treatment thresholds and restorative techniques. The results from previously conducted, precoded questionnaires developed by Espelid and Tveit, as well as from a recent Dutch questionnaire, were collected and analysed. A worldwide trend towards more minimally invasive strategies in the operative treatment of caries lesions could not be observed, neither for the initiation of operative treatment nor for the preparation techniques. However, in some countries, changes over time could be assessed, especially in Norway, where a reduction in the proportion of interventions is visible for both occlusal and approximal lesions, indicating that more dentists are postponing interventions until the lesions have progressed to a deeper level. From the Dutch national survey, it could be concluded that operators that intervene at an earlier stage of approximal lesioning (stage ≤4) also intervene at an earlier stage of occlusal caries (stage ≤3) (p = 0.012; OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.22-5.22). Generally, it can be concluded that dentists worldwide still tend to operatively intervene at a too early stage of caries, although variations exist between countries. A worldwide shift could be observed in the restorative material applied, since composite resin has almost completely replaced amalgam for restoring primary caries lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Numerous studies have been carried out on the longevity of restorations. The focus in these studies has been to explain differences in longevity according to characteristics of the patient and type of restoration. No attempts have been made to estimate dentist-specific effects, that is, how much of the variation in longevity can be explained by dentist variation compared with patient variation. If dentist-specific variation is large, this may indicate a need to reassess the way dentists are taught restorative dentistry, or it may indicate a need for further education of qualified dentists. Objectives To estimate dentist-specific variation in the longevity of restorations in the first permanent molars for children aged 6-18 years in Norway. Methods The data set encompassed all children born in 1993 who received one or more restorations in their first permanent molars. This encompassed 72 573 restorations for 64 728 children who were treated by 2473 public dental officers. The data were analysed using two multilevel models - mixed-effects logistic regression and mixed-effects linear regression. Results The dentist-specific variation was low. The intraclass correlation coefficient varied from 0.03 to 0.09 in different specifications. Conclusions Public dental officers in Norway show a high degree of homogeneity with regard to longevity of restorations. Further improvements in the longevity of restorations can most likely be achieved by preventing secondary caries and by improving the physical properties of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]