Skills of undergraduate dental students in performing atraumatic restorative treatment one year survival rate of this restoration.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the skills of the undergraduate dental students in performing Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the one year survival of this restoration. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Department of Community Dentistry, Multan Medical & Dental College, Multan. Period: Sept 2021 to Aug 2022. Material & Methods: Through convenient purposive sampling selected 2nd year dental students were assigned to collect the extracted teeth to perform ART according to the given guidelines using Glass Ionomer Cement. The research supervisor assessed the characteristics of the filling and keeping in view the status of the restoration it has given Alfa, Bravo or Charlie score. The students who scored Alfa were then allowed to perform ART on patients in Out Patient Department. The demographics of the patients along with caries assessment (Class I, II & III) were recorded. Patients were kept on telephonic contact and were recalled after 1 year to evaluate the survival rate. Results: A total 100 ART restorations were done on extracted teeth. Around 76 fillings were found to be perfect while 24 fillings were associated with any one or two defects. Later 100 patients were included having any of the 3 classes of caries. Mean age of the patients was 32 years. The success rate of ART restorations at 12 months was found to be 89% with highest success rate of 62% was reported in Class I ART restorations. Conclusion: Extraordinary high survivals rates of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment found in this study represented the reliability of this method as an affordable preventive and curative treatment for dental caries particularly in developing countries.