Factors influencing dentists’ choice of restorative materials for occlusal cavities: a cross-sectional study from Palestine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the factors influencing dentists' choice of restorative materials for posterior restorations, with a particular emphasis on the perceived influence of social media on patient preferences among general dental practitioners in Palestine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional web-based survey. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: A total of 550 general dentists practising in Palestine were invited between May and December 2023 through convenience and snowball sampling via social media platforms; 390 responded, and 350 complete responses were included in the final analysis. INTERVENTION: No specific intervention was applied; this was an observational, questionnaire-based study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dentists' selection of restorative materials (composite, amalgam or high-viscosity glass-ionomer cement (HVGIC)) for posterior restorations in relation to tooth type, patient age, oral hygiene, moisture control, financial status and social media influence. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED: Descriptive statistics, χ² tests and multinomial logistic regression were used to examine associations and control for potential confounders. RESULTS: Material selection varied significantly by tooth type (p<0.001), patient age (p<0.001), oral hygiene (p<0.001) and financial status (p<0.001). In the multivariable analysis, financial influence remained the only significant predictor of material choice, whereas gender, clinical experience, postgraduate training and perceived social media influence were not independent determinants. Composite resin was preferred for premolars and aesthetically driven cases, whereas amalgam was favoured for molars and for patients with poor hygiene or inadequate moisture control. HVGICs were selected for mainly children (60%) and elderly patients (39%). Most dentists perceived that social media strongly influenced their patients' preferences (p<0.0001), with 97% of dentists reporting believing that their patients' preferences were due to social media. CONCLUSION: rather than direct measures of patient behaviour, underscores its growing role in shaping dentists' impressions of patient expectations and highlights the importance of evidence-based guidance and public education to support patient-centred, clinically appropriate restorative decisions.