Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of indirect restorations and their association with past caries history and present need for restorative treatment among adults in Northern Finland.
Materials and methods: The study population was a subsample of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 1961). The oral examinations were performed in 2012-2013. Indirect restorations (inlays/onlays and single crowns) were recorded tooth wise. Caries history was described with the sum of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF). Caries was assessed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). The score of 4 was used as the cut off point for visible decay. Present need for restorative treatment was calculated by summing the decayed (D) and fractured (Fr) teeth. Need for restorative treatment was dichotomized to low [(D + Fr) ≤ 1] and high [(D + Fr) > 1].
Results: Altogether, 7.8% of the study population had indirect restorations. The prevalence of indirect restorations did not differ within DMF (p = 0.925), but it was higher among the subjects with a low need for restorative treatment (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Indirect restorations were rare in the adult population and found mainly among the subjects with a low need for restorative treatment.
Clinical relevance: The results of the study can encourage dentists to consider more often indirect restorations for subjects with a need for restorative treatment.
Keywords: DMF index; Dental caries; Dental restoration; ICDAS; NFBC1966; Restorative treatment.