Esthetic veneering of amalgam restorations with composite resin--combining the best of both worlds?

Patients are becoming more and more aware of the esthetic alternatives to dental amalgam and are asking dentists to offer solutions that are more esthetically pleasing. However, the difficulties in inserting clinically durable composite resin restorations in the posterior area are numerous. With the high-copper amalgam systems, the dental profession has had an excellent restorative material. In the past there have been attempts to combine amalgam with the esthetic qualities of composite resin. The introduction of an adhesive and opaque light-curing glass-ionomer liner has created new opportunities to bond composite resin to existing amalgam restorations on esthetically disturbing surfaces. This paper describes a simple and quick way in which unesthetic buccal and occlusal extensions of amalgam restorations can be veneered with composite resin. Preliminary six-month results of about 100 restorations are presented. This method may prevent the premature replacement of good functioning amalgam restorations with porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns or composite resin restorations for only esthetic reasons.