AWARENESS ON PROVISIONAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS - A SURVEY

Introduction: Provisional restoration is essential for gum health and pulp protection aiding in successful prosthodontic therapy. There are different materials available such as polymethyl methacrylate resins, polyethyl methacrylate resins, bisacryl resin etcfor fabrication of provisional restoration. Aim: To evaluate the awareness on provisional restorative materials among dental students. Methods and Materials: Survey was conducted among 150 dental students. 12 questions were circulated through online google forms via WhatsApp platform. Data was collected and verified. The responses were statistically analysed using SPSS software and correlation was done using Chi square test. Results: On analysing the data 55% of the participants were aware of provisional restorative materials 53% of participants preferred direct provisional restoration, 58% of the participants preferred 3D printed as the most durable provisional restoration 56% of the participants accepted that staining agents affect the stain-ability of resin composite provisional restorative materials, 36% of the participants preferred polyethene methacrylate (PEMA) as provisional restorative material among other materials. On association between undergrad and postgrad students, postgraduates were more aware of provisional materials when compared to undergraduates (p value- 0.731) indicating statistically not significant. Conclusion: Most of the dental students were aware of provisional restorative materials.