prevalence of factors causing amalgam and composite restoration replacement or repair in patients referred to operative dentistry department of shahid beheshti dental school: 2001-2002

background & aim: repair or replacement of restorations is one of the main necessities for health promotion. however, it has its own physical, psychological and economical side effects. the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of factors causing restoration replacement or repair. methods & materials: a non probable sampling was used for this cross – sectional observational descriptive study. patients who attended shahid beheshti dental school over a period of one year (2001-2002) were checked by instructors to identify the reasons for replacement or repair. data were analyzed with spss, ver 11.0 software. results: it was found that recurrent caries were the main factor for the replacement or repair of amalgam and composite restorations. marginal ditching in class i and class v amalgam restorations, overhang in class ii amalgam restorations, restoration missing in class i and class ii composite restorations and color dismatch in class iii and class iv restorations were the second most common factors which were founded. conclusion: it was concluded that recurrent caries was the main factor for the replacement or repair of amalgam and composite restorations.j dent sch 2005 23(3): 6