The aim was to measure variations in the threshold for operative treatment of occlusal caries in permanent teeth and the use of dental materials, compared with results from a similar study conducted in Norway in 1995.

The analysis of reasons for the replacement of 9,805 amalgam, composite, glass ionomer, resin modified glass ionomer and ‘other’ restorations in permanent teeth in general dental practice.

The ages of 6,761 restorations replaced in permanent teeth, 6,088 in adults > or =19 years of age and 673 in adolescents < or =18 years, were available for analyses. The results showed that the median age of amalgam restorations in adults was 11 years and that of resin-based composite restorations 8 years.