An Investigation of the Attitudes of Dental Students toward the Teaching of Posterior Composite Restorations at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

The use of composite-resin in the restoration of the posterior teeth has been verified as a successful and proven restoration and at the same time with the increased demand for these restorations, dental schools have been teaching the subject of posterior composites to their students though inadequate research has been devoted to assess the attitudes of students toward the efficiency of these teachings. To this end, the present study was carried out to investigate the attitudes of dental students toward the teaching of posterior composite restorations at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Shiraz Azad University.

In this descriptive study, 180 dental students in years 5 & 6 were selected according to the existing lists by means of a census sampling in these schools. The participants were assessed through a valid and reliable questionnaire which included different items of teaching posterior composites as well as the students’ abilities in this regard. The data were evaluated descriptively and student t and chi-square tests were used to analyze the statistical differences based on the students’ schools or genders.

In most cases, moderate judgments were expressed by the students regarding the different aspects of teaching posterior composites although 52.0% and 48.3% of the participants reported their good ability to do 1-surface and 2-surface restorations using composite resin. According to 41.2% of the participants, there was poor theoretical teaching of posterior composites compared to amalgam restorations. Poor oral hygiene (87.5%), caries susceptibility (79.4%), and patients’ poor cooperation (70.6%) were the most cases of posterior composite contraindications. In 80.0% and 85.3% of Cl I and Cl II cavities, amalgam was preferred to composite resin and, in average, the studied students restored 10.2, 9.9, and 5.2 posterior teeth with 1, 2, and 3 surfaces using composite resins, respectively.

 Discussion & Conclusion

Although there are some positive trends in teaching posterior composite restorations, amalgam is the preferred material in the restorations performed in the studied schools. The results of this study indicated the need for more attention to teaching the posterior composites and to promote similar teachings using the same guidelines.