Scanning analysis of a dual-alloy restoration

Abstract

1 wo previous reports have described the technique and merit of restoring deep subgingival carious lesions with dental amalgam to create a suitable gingival wall for cast gold restorations. ‘. 2 During the years of service, clinical observations delineated the advantages of the restorations which transcended the minor complications attributed to dissimilar metals. The merits of the method have thus been clinically established. The technique involves restoring the deep gingival part of the proximal portion of Class II cast gold inlay preparations with dental amalgam. The completed gingival restoration is then treated as tooth tissue, and a more occlusal gingival wall is created in the amalgam (Fig. 1) . Extensive gingival caries presents a problem, particularly where a developmental groove is pronounced. Undercuts, inadequate access or visibility, problems in establishing parallelism, and gingival management complicate the procedure. Restoring the deep gingival part with dental amalgam facilitates inlay construction. Since the technique employs dissimilar metals with the associated electrolytic action, a more detailed and accurate investigation of the technique became possible following the extraction of a tooth which had been similarly restored and in service for 13 years. The results confirm the effectiveness of the method.