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Clinical quality of amalgam restorations
Scandinavian Journal of Dental Research
|December 1, 1979
Summary
A study found that one-third of amalgam dental restorations were unacceptable. Marginal overhang was the most common failure, followed by recurrent decay and poor marginal adaptation, indicating a need for improved dental filling quality.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Dental Materials Science
- Clinical Oral Health
Background:
- Amalgam restorations are widely used in dentistry.
- Assessing the long-term clinical performance of dental restorations is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Understanding failure modes of amalgam fillings informs material selection and technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical quality and identify failure modes of amalgam restorations.
- To assess the acceptability of mesio-occlusal Class II and buccal Class V amalgam fillings.
- To determine the prevalence of specific failure types in dental restorations.
Main Methods:
- Clinical examination of 203 mesio-occlusal Class II and 127 buccal Class V amalgam restorations.
- Evaluation of restorations in 246 individuals aged 25 years.
- Categorization of restoration failures based on predefined criteria.
Main Results:
- One-third (33.3%) of the evaluated amalgam restorations were deemed unacceptable.
- Marginal overhang was the most frequent failure (17%), followed by recurrent caries (12%).
- Other significant failures included unacceptable proximal contact (10%), unacceptable marginal adaptation (8%), and isthmus fractures (2%).
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of amalgam restorations exhibit clinical deficiencies.
- Marginal integrity and prevention of secondary caries are key challenges in amalgam restoration longevity.
- Clinical quality assessment is essential for identifying areas for improvement in dental restorative practices.