Patient-Related Factors
Behavioral factors of an individual, such as snacking frequency and toothbrushing habits, can directly affect oral environmental conditions, which in turn influence the survival of restorations [
29]. Biochemical challenges, such as biofilm accumulation and temperature fluctuations, create harsh environmental conditions for tooth structure and adhesive interfaces. These challenges can lead to processes like hydrolysis, leaching, fatigue, and cracking [
30]. Dietary habits play a crucial role in maintaining or disturbing the homeostasis of the oral environment. Frequent exposure to sugars and fermentable carbohydrates leads to prolonged plaque acidification [
31], resulting in microbiota metabolic activity and tooth demineralization. This acidification can severely damage composite restoration surfaces [
32].
Salivary fluid is essential for the formation of the oral microbiome and biofilm [
33]. It has been demonstrated that proteins secreted into saliva within the oral cavity are valuable for testing and diagnosing dental caries, underlining the significance of saliva in both the progression and detection of this condition [
34]. Salivary proteins, such as proline-rich proteins, mucins, histatins, cystatins, and statherins, protect the tooth surface by attracting calcium ions and promoting remineralization. The pellicle they form slows demineralization and reduces microbial adherence, shielding the tooth surface from pH fluctuations. This also enhances the buffering action, leading to acid neutralization from bacterial or non-bacterial sources [
35]. Furthermore, they positively influence the reorganization of infected or affected carious dentin. A significant reduction in bacterial counts observed after cavity sealing highlights the antimicrobial activity of salivary proteins [
36,
37,
38]. Salivary proteins include powerful enzymes that naturally inhibit bacterial growth by penetrating bacterial cell walls and neutralizing their pathogenicity. These enzymes also exhibit antifungal and antiviral properties [
39]. Various studies have found that the texture of saliva is a crucial factor as well. Saliva that is thick, sticky, and frothy, particularly when it exhibits increased viscosity, has been associated with a higher susceptibility to dental caries [
40].
Xerostomia, characterized by reduced quality and quantity of saliva, can elevate the prevalence of caries, and it is more common in female individuals over 50 years old [
41,
42]. Patients with xerostomia often experience decreased survival rates of dental restorations, particularly those with large composite restorations [
43]. Under normal conditions, saliva is oversaturated with calcium hydroxyapatite, which helps prevent dental demineralization. Diseases that affect the quality and quantity of saliva, such as Sjogren's syndrome, viral infections (HIV and HCV), uncontrolled diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, depression, and cancer, can impact the health of intraoral soft and hard tissues, leading to dental caries and gingivitis [
44]. Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS), associated with bruxism and considered an oral psychosomatic condition, which often aligns with salivary gland dysfunction [
45]. Bulimia nervosa, characterized by self-induced vomiting and binge eating, has also been linked to altered salivary function. Studies indicate that both resting and stimulated salivary flow rates are reduced in patients with sialadenosis, while total protein and amylase levels are increased [
44]. Additionally, xerostomia is associated with over 500 medications, with polypharmacy being the most prevalent cause [
46]. Many patients on xerogenic medications are unaware of their risk for oral complications such as dental caries. Medications that contribute to xerostomia include antipsychotics, antihistamines, antiemetics, antiretroviral therapy, decongestants, appetite suppressants, and diuretics [
44]. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy of head and neck can also lead to changes in saliva quality and quantity [
44]. It has been verified that while direct damage to teeth or restorations from radiation itself may not be the primary cause of early restoration failure in radiation-related caries, changes in saliva quantity and quality, challenges in maintaining oral hygiene, and an increased cariogenic diet may play more significant roles [
41,
42]. Furthermore, several studies have associated smoke exposure with an increased risk of caries, linked to alterations in saliva [
47,
48].
The use of caries risk assessment (CRA) can help identify risk factors and is crucial for tailoring patient treatment, as it is directly related to the rate of dental restoration failure [
49,
50]. Patients with a high or medium caries risk have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of restoration failure [
14]. A study found that patients with a high DMFT index (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) have a 2.45 to 4.40 times greater risk of restoration failure compared to those with a low index [
51,
52]. Additionally, the absence of teeth and inadequate proximal contacts have also been related to lower survival rates for restorations [
53].
Missing teeth may lead to the use of partial removable dentures, which can compromise the survival of restorations, as patients with removable dentures frequently struggle to clean them effectively [
54,
55]. Ulcerations of the gums and/or oral mucosa have been reported in these patients due to poor denture fit and improper use, further complicating their oral hygiene compliance [
56]. Additionally, the presence of non-oral pathogenic bacteria and significant biofilm formation in the oral cavities of patients using dentures have been shown to increase the risk of systemic infections and complicate oral hygiene management [
57]. Furthermore, compromised periodontal status has also been linked to a higher likelihood of restoration failure, as optimal restoration success is achieved when the surrounding tissues are healthy and stable [
58]. Eliminating periodontal disease before, during, and after restorative procedures is crucial for the longevity of restorations [
59].
Psychological factors also play a significant role in enhancing restoration survival [
55,
60]. Caries risk may increase in any age group due to physiological changes, which are associated with increased medication use and reduced interest in self-care. Additionally, stress factors can manifest in behaviors such as parafunctional habits, including bruxism, which can induce occlusal stress and pose mechanical challenges to both restorations and adhesive interfaces, potentially resulting in wear and/or cracking of teeth and restorations [
60]. Patients with bulimia have shown an elevated rate of restoration failure due to erosion [
61]. In patients experiencing erosion, the cause of the wear is a risk factor for restorative treatment if it remains uncontrolled. The longevity of the restoration is reduced due to compromised marginal integrity, leading to a higher incidence of microleakage and secondary caries [
62].
Several studies have shown the correlation between age and restoration failure. Increased failure rates for direct resin composite restorations were observed during adolescence and after age 65 [
29,
30,
63]. While adolescents are more prone to frequent sugary snacks and soft drinks [
13], older patients are more likely to have older restorations, and caries incidence is higher due to changes in their stomatognathic system, impaired motor function, reduced salivary flow, changes to softer diets, general health issues, increased use of medications, and their inability to maintain oral hygiene [
64].
Regarding gender, some studies have reported lower restoration survival in male patients [
29,
65]. while others did not find any correlation [
66]. This discrepancy may be due to men typically having stronger bite forces than women, leading to higher rates of material fatigue, fractures, and restoration failures [
67]. Additionally, women, being more health-conscious, tend to attend dental hygiene consultations more regularly, which contributes to better oral health outcomes [
68,
69].
Socioeconomic deprivation has been reported as an important factor in the survival rate of composite restorations [
49,
50]. Cultural, educational, sociological, and psychological factors also play crucial roles in influencing oral care and, consequently, the longevity of dental restorations [
70,
71,
72,
73]. People from poorer socioeconomic strata experience more restoration failures than those from wealthier backgrounds. Restorations in clinics in deprived areas have higher annual failure rates (5.6%) compared to areas with medium (4.2%) and high (5.1%) socioeconomic status [
74]. The educational level of patients and their access to oral health services can affect clinical outcomes [
65]. Poor adherence to oral health advice [
55], irregular dental visits [
75], and lower maternal education at childbirth [
76] are other socioeconomic-related factors strongly associated with restoration failure. Conversely, studies have identified a direct correlation between the frequency of dental checkups per year and the failure rates of direct restorations [
63]. Records from the General Dental Services of England and Wales indicate that patients who frequently visit dental practices experience significantly reduced survival rates of direct restorations [
77,
78]. This suggests that a proactive or aggressive approach by dentists may potentially lead to over-treatment [
79,
80]. This suggests that a proactive or aggressive approach by dentists may potentially lead to over-treatment [
79,
80]. This phenomenon can also be explained by the method of determining recall intervals, which takes into account patient-related factors such as oral hygiene, dental history, and age. As a result, patients with poorer indicators are scheduled for shorter intervals between checkups.
Furthermore, research has shown that patients who frequently change dentists are more likely to have their restorations replaced. Dentists who did not place the original restoration are more inclined to replace it than those who did [
81,
82,
83,
84,
85]. This tendency may stem from dentists having greater trust in their own work than in the work of their peers. Additionally, when addressing a defective restoration in a new patient, dentists lacking baseline information for an accurate prognosis are more likely to replace the entire restoration rather than repair it [
86].