Prolonging the life of composite tooth fillings could be an important step forward for dental treatment, the researchers say, since more than 122 million composite tooth restorations are made in the United States every year. An average person uses their teeth for more than 600,000 "chews" a year, and some studies suggest the average lifetime of a posterior dental composite is only six years.
In this study, 1,490 general dentists who represent a diverse range of dentist characteristics, practice types and patient populations served, completed an anonymous questionnaire about dental dam use and their attitudes toward its use. The study found a substantial variation in dental dam use and attitudes.
