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Long-term evaluation of surgically placed amalgam fillings
A L Frank1, D H Glick, S S Patterson
1School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Journal of Endodontics
|August 1, 1992
Summary
Surgically placed amalgam fillings show short-term success but a concerning long-term failure rate. This study evaluated patients treated before 1981, finding over 40% of amalgam fillings ultimately failed.
Area of Science:
- Dental materials science
- Restorative dentistry
- Clinical outcomes research
Background:
- Clinical observations suggest short-term success but long-term uncertainty for surgically placed amalgam fillings.
- A need exists to evaluate the long-term durability of amalgam restorations in endodontic surgery cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that surgically placed amalgam fillings have a less favorable long-term prognosis.
- To determine the long-term failure rate of amalgam restorations placed in endodontic surgical procedures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of patients treated before 1981 with surgically placed amalgam fillings.
- Inclusion criteria required documented periapical healing prior to ultimate failure.
- Exclusion of cases failing due to reasons other than the amalgam restoration itself.
Main Results:
- A total of 104 teeth were evaluated.
- 60 teeth (57.7%) demonstrated successful long-term outcomes.
- 44 teeth (42.3%) were classified as failures attributed to the amalgam restoration.
Conclusions:
- Surgically placed amalgam fillings exhibit a significant long-term failure rate.
- The findings challenge the assumption of favorable long-term prognosis for amalgam restorations in this context.
- Further research into alternative restorative materials for endodontic surgery may be warranted.