Evaluation of Matrix Band Systems for Posterior Proximal Restorations among Egyptian Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Survey

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the techniques of matricing used by Egyptian dentists, and evaluate the influence of these techniques on the reproduction of optimum proximal contacts for posterior proximal resin composite restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was developed and sent to 785 dentists via e-mail and social media platforms. The survey asked the participants about the following: the highest academic degree achieved and their experience, techniques of matricing used, brands of matricing systems used, assessment of proximal contact points, their evaluation of the contact points they reproduced, and their assessment of the restorations’ emergence profiles. RESULTS: A total of 415 dentists participated in the study (response rate 52.8%). 308, (74%), dentists preferred using the sectional matrix system, while 107 dentists, (26%), preferred using the circumferential matrix system. One hundred twenty-six dentists, (31%), reported that the circumferential matrix systems reproduced optimum contacts, 105 dentists, (25%), reported tight contacts and 184 dentists, (44%), reported open contacts. However, for the sectional matrix systems, the optimum contacts were reported by 279 dentists, (67%), tight contacts by 109 dentists, (26%), and open contacts by 27 dentists, (7%). There was a statistically significant difference between the sectional matrix systems and the circumferential matrix systems regarding the tightness of the proximal contact points (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Egyptian dentists preferred using the sectional matrix systems. The survey indicated that optimum contact points were highly associated with the sectional matrix systems, while poor (open and tight) contacts were highly associated with the circumferential matrix systems.