Intraoral Television Micromeasurement of Cavity Margin Deterioration

¹ Department of Pedodontics, Indiana University, School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana

This study was designed to demonstrate a clinical application of the intraoral television microscope and to measure and assess the buccal proximal marginal deterioration of the proximocclusal alloy restorations in deciduous teeth. The buccal proximal marginal deteriorations of 51 mesiocclusal silver amalgam alloy restorations in deciduous second molars were serially and periodically measured and evaluated throughout 1 year, using a specifically designed intraoral television microscope.

The data indicate that deterioration of the gingival area of the proximal margin (33 percent) during the first 3 months post-operatively was faster than in the occlusal area (21.3 percent). During the last 9 months, the occlusal area deterioration (78.8 percent) was faster. Microscopic alloy flash was more frequently observed in the gingival area and could account for the greater percent deterioration of the gingival area during the first 3 months. Occlusal and masticatory stresses could account for the greater occlusal marginal deterioration during the last 9 months of the study.