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Broadbent JM, Williams KB et al. J Clin Periodontol 2006; 33: 803–810

There is controversy over whether restorative margins may lead to significant future periodontal breakdown, and one previous study suggests that after 26 years, sites with and without such margins experience equal levels of disease. In addition, there are confounding factors which need to be accounted for. In the present study, data from subjects when aged 26 and 32 years were obtained from a longitudinal health survey in a New Zealand cohort borne in 1972-3.

Over 95% of the surviving birth cohort participated in each examination, and 87% (884) had full relevant data for both examinations. Multivariate analysis was controlled for gender, oral hygiene, dental visiting, socioeconomic status, smoking and flossing. Where a proximal surface had been carious or filled at the first examination, or had progressed from being either sound or carious to being filled, there were significant ORs of 1.9 – 2.7 for associated attachment loss of 3+ mm at those sites.