The Use of Restorative Materials in Primary Molars among Pediatric Dentists in Israel

Objectives: To assess the current choice of various restoration materials among Israeli pediatric dentists according to seniority and specialty. Study design: Participating dentists completed a 23-item questionnaire on their qualifications, type of practice and preference of restorative material. Results: Seventy-five dentists (average age 46.27±12.6 years, 58 females) participated. Forty-one were specialist pediatric dentists and 34 were general practitioners. Amalgam was preferred by 49.3%, followed by composite (41.3%), glass ionomer cement (5.3%) and compomer (4%). Only 13.3% of the dentists thought amalgam bears environmental and health hazards, compared to 49.3% for composite. Satisfaction was high for amalgam and composite, less for glass ionomer cements and least for compomer. General practitioners preferred amalgam (70.6%) while pediatric dentists preferred composite (51.2%), P < 0.003. Conclusions: Amalgam and composite were the materials of choice among the participating Israeli dentists. Most of them (86.7%) responded that amalgam does not possess any health issues. Their satisfaction with the restoration materials was highest for amalgam and composite, a choice significantly affected by whether they were in general practice (amalgam) or specialized in pediatric dentistry (composite).