Evaluation of the dental structure loss produced during maintenance and replacement of occlusal amalgam restorations

Abstract

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate four different approaches to the decision of changing or not defective amalgam restorations in first primary molar teeth concerning the loss of dental structure. Ditched amalgam restorations (n = 11) were submitted to four different treatments, as follows: Control group -polishing and finishing of the restorations were carried out; Amalgam group -the ditched amalgam restorations were replaced by new amalgam restorations; Composite resin group -the initial amalgam restorations were replaced by composite resin restorations; Flowable resin group -the ditching around the amalgam restorations was filled with flowable resin. Images of the sectioned teeth were made and the area of the cavities before and after the procedures was determined by image analysis software to assess structural loss. The data were submitted to ANOVA complemented by the Student Newman Keuls test (p < 0.05). The cavities in all the groups presented significantly greater areas after the procedures. However, the amalgam group showed more substantial dental loss. The other three groups presented no statistically significant difference in dental structure loss after the re-treatments. Thus, replacing ditched amalgam restorations by other similar restorations resulted in a significant dental structure loss while maintaining them or replacing them by resin restorations did not result in significant loss.

Amalgam Repair: Quantitative Evaluation of Amalgam-resin and Resin-tooth Interfaces with Different Surface Treatments

“…Sardenberg and others reported that replacing ditched amalgam restorations with other similar restorations resulted in significant dental structure loss, while maintaining or replacing them by resin restoration did not result in significant loss. 19 The microleakage of amalgam restoration repaired with amalgam was beyond the scope of this study. Although amalgam-to-amalgam repair is a widely utilized technique, previous studies report that only 40%-70% [20][21][22] bond strength is achieved with this technique.…”

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Self-Adhesive Composites for Amalgam Repair with or Without Alloy Primer, in Terms of Shear Bond Strength

“…Total replacement of amalgam restorations could cause excessive tooth tissue loss and pulpal damage (26,27). Repair is recommended instead of total replacement for damaged amalgam restorations.…”

A study on the survival of primary molars with intact and with defective restorations

“…The approach that seems to be most commonly accepted within paediatric dentistry formanaging defective restorations is to re‐restore these. Replacing restorations generate substantial costs and usually increase the size of the cavity. Re‐restoring may be wise if the child is young, and the cavitated tooth still has a sizable number of years in which to perform.…”