Measurement of restoration longevity: from Robinson's rules to a 13 million restoration dataset - part 2: onwards and upwards.

Aim To present the progression of work on the measurement of restoration survival in teeth from the development of large datasets for this purpose, onwards.Methods The literature on restoration survival from the early 2000s has been reviewed, including the use of large administrative datasets and datasets developed for research, using examples drawn from the available literature.Conclusions The need to collect data on restoration survival, and the factors associated with it, was established as long ago as the 1960s. The ability to analyse larger volumes of data facilitated by computer technology has allowed not only the analysis of the survival of the restoration itself, but the corresponding analysis of survival of the restored tooth. Furthermore, the use of current computer technology facilitates analysis of a wide range of associated factors, including patient factors such as socioeconomic and caries risk status.