Evaluation of interproximal finishing techniques for silver amalgam restorations

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Recurrent caries and gingival inflammation are common issues around interproximal silver amalgam restorations.
• Limited data exists on the effectiveness of finishing techniques specifically at the gingival margin of these restorations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the surface smoothness of interproximal silver amalgam restorations using four distinct finishing techniques.
• To determine if specific finishing methods improve the surface quality at the gingival margin.

Main Methods:

• Four different finishing techniques were applied to interproximal silver amalgam restorations.
• Surface smoothness was measured quantitatively to compare the efficacy of each technique.

Main Results:

• Finishing techniques involving carving, flossing, and polishing strips resulted in significantly smoother surfaces (p < 0.01) compared to other methods.
• These specific techniques demonstrated superior surface finishing at the gingival margin.

Conclusions:

• The use of finishing strips, in conjunction with carving and flossing, shows significant promise for enhancing the surface smoothness of Class II silver amalgam restorations.
• Improved surface smoothness may contribute to reduced risk of recurrent caries and gingival inflammation.