Mastering Class I Amalgam Restorations

Class I Amalgam Restorations: Techniques and Indications

• Dental amalgam is a restorative material composed of a mixture of silver-tin-copper alloy and mercury.
• Amalgam has advantages such as strength, longevity, ease of use, and self-sealing properties.
• However, it also has disadvantages such as non-insulating, non-esthetic, and less conservative to sound tooth structure.
• Amalgam is indicated for moderate to large class I and II defects that are not aesthetically important, cannot be well isolated, extend onto the root surface, need foundation, abutment for removable partial denture, or have heavy occlusion.
• Amalgam is contraindicated in aesthetically important areas and small to moderate class I and II defects.
• Conservative class I amalgam restoration involves establishing the outline form, providing resistance and retention forms, and creating a flat pulpal floor.
• The primary resistance form should have a flat pulpal floor, minimal extension of external walls, strong enamel margins, and sufficient depth of 1.5 to 2 mm.
• The primary retention form should have occlusal convergence.
• The recommended bur for conservative class I preparations is bur No. 245 or 330.
• Enameloplasty is indicated to eliminate any radiating fissure that is less than one-third the thickness of enamel.
• The surface left by enameloplasty should meet the tooth preparation wall with a cavo-surface angle of no greater than approximately 100 degrees.
• The final tooth preparation involves removal of any remaining infected dentin, pulp protection, finishing external walls, and cleaning and inspecting the prepared tooth.

Class I Amalgam Restorations: Techniques and Indications

• Dental amalgam is a restorative material composed of a mixture of silver-tin-copper alloy and mercury.
• Amalgam has advantages such as strength, longevity, ease of use, and self-sealing properties.
• However, it also has disadvantages such as non-insulating, non-esthetic, and less conservative to sound tooth structure.
• Amalgam is indicated for moderate to large class I and II defects that are not aesthetically important, cannot be well isolated, extend onto the root surface, need foundation, abutment for removable partial denture, or have heavy occlusion.
• Amalgam is contraindicated in aesthetically important areas and small to moderate class I and II defects.
• Conservative class I amalgam restoration involves establishing the outline form, providing resistance and retention forms, and creating a flat pulpal floor.
• The primary resistance form should have a flat pulpal floor, minimal extension of external walls, strong enamel margins, and sufficient depth of 1.5 to 2 mm.
• The primary retention form should have occlusal convergence.
• The recommended bur for conservative class I preparations is bur No. 245 or 330.
• Enameloplasty is indicated to eliminate any radiating fissure that is less than one-third the thickness of enamel.
• The surface left by enameloplasty should meet the tooth preparation wall with a cavo-surface angle of no greater than approximately 100 degrees.
• The final tooth preparation involves removal of any remaining infected dentin, pulp protection, finishing external walls, and cleaning and inspecting the prepared tooth.