Parental acceptability of coloured compomer as a restorative material in primary teeth of children - A randomized split mouth clinical trial

Abstract

Coloured compomer materials have been introduced in Pediatric Dentistry and gained popularity as it develops a positive behaviour in the child and makes further treatment stress-free. However, parental satisfaction regarding the appearance of coloured compomer is questionable. This study aimed to compare the parental acceptability of coloured compomer compared to conventional compomer for the restoration of primary teeth in children. A total of sixty sites, divided into two groups, with thirty subjects in each group using split-mouth design were chosen amongst patients aged between 5 to 10 years reporting to the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. In the control group, conventional compomer (Material A) were placed, similarly coloured compomers (Material B) were placed in the experimental group under the standard operating protocol. Parental preference was noted by asking them to tick or point to the appropriate box labelled Material A and Material B, and the results were evaluated by statistical analysis using SPSS version 21.0. A statistically significant difference was found in parents in preference of conventional tooth coloured compomer as the restorative material (p<0.05). Thus, the preference of parents regarding the placement of coloured compomer in primary teeth is comparatively low. Though the coloured compomer material positively influences the behaviour and treatment outcome in children, the parental satisfaction is found to be comparatively low as parents feel that it lacks the aesthetic appeal when compared to the conventional tooth-coloured restorations.