Frequency of dental cements application by general practitioners and prosthodontists in Tehran, 2004

Nowadays various types of dental cements are used in fixed prosthetic treatments with different indications. On the other hand, these indications may be changed over a lot every day and new materials are being produced. The aim of this study was to determine the practice of dentists (included general practitioners and prosthodontists) about applications and manipulations of dental cements in fixed prosthetic treatments. Methods & Materials: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, descriptive method. Samples were 362 general practitioners (GP) and 32 (academic and non-academic staff) specialists worked in Great Tehran in 2004. Sampling was done in a simple random method. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions. After determining the validity of questionnaire, it's reliability was confirmed by means of a test – retest exam. Zinc phosphate was the most frequent cement in fixed partial denture restorations (FPDs) in non-vital teeth (54.4% of GPs and 51.3% of specialists). In vital teeth, both in preparations near and distant to the pulp, polycarboxylate were used frequently by GPs (50.8% and 56.4%, respectively) and specialists (531% and 34.4%, respectively). The most of dentists in both groups were using zinc oxide with eugenol in temporary restorations near the pulp (55.5% and 62.5%, respectively). Zinc phosphate was frequently used for post and core cases (54.5% and 71.9%, respectively). The choices of general practitioners were relatively similar to specialists.