A combined porcelain onlay/amalgam restoration for an endodontically treated posterior tooth

This article describes a new method of fabricating an aesthetic restoration for an endodontically treated posterior tooth. The tooth is prepared with minimal reduction of sound tooth tissue. Amalgam is condensed into the orifices of the root canals, the pulp chamber, and the remainder of the cavity. The tooth and the amalgam core are then prepared to receive a porcelain onlay. Additional retention is provided by 1 mm deep holes cut in the amalgam floor of the preparation which is then microetched. The porcelain onlay with its margins remote from the gingiva is bonded with dual-cure composite cement. The learning objective of this article is to familiarize the reader with this new procedure.