No evidence that bonding is needed for amalgam restorations

Data sourcesRelevant databases were searched for the review such as the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, Medline, EMBASE, clinical trials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.Study selectionRandomised controlled trials comparing adhesively bonded versus non-bonded class I and II amalgam restorations in permanent molars and premolars.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers independently screened papers and extracted data.ResultsOne trial with 31 patients who received 113 restorations was included. At two years, 50 out of 53 restorations in the non-bonded group survived and 55 of 60 restorations survived with five unaccounted for at follow-up. Post insertion sensitivity was not statistically significant at baseline and for the two-year follow-up. No fractures or differences in the marginal adaptation were reported.ConclusionsThere is no evidence either to claim or to refute a difference in survival between bonded and non-bonded amalgam restorations. In view of the lack of evidence on the additional benefit of adhesively bonding amalgam in comparison with non-bonded amalgam, it is important that clinicians be mindful of the additional costs that may be incurred.