Aim of the study. The paper presents the clinical performance of amalgam restorations, in correlation with a series of clinical parameters. Materials and method. The group under study included 42 patients with 150 amalgam 7 year-old restorations, subjected to morpho-functional assessment by means of the USPHS-modified Ryge indices. The clinical parameters under investigation were represented by the type of cavity, dental group, extent of surface extension, and cariogenic risk. Results and discussion. A high occlusal wear was evident in 44% of the proximo-occlusal restorations at molar level, and in 30% of the restorations extending in the external middle cuspidian third at molar level, inadequate proximal morphology in 20% of the restorations localized at molar level, presence of marginal defects and of marginal fractures in 12% of the proximo-occlusal restorations at molar level, deficitary marginal adaptation in 27% of the proximo-occlusal restorations localized at molar level, intense degradation of surface quality in 64% of the proximo-occlusal restorations localized at molar level, and secondary marginal caries associated with 6.66% of the restorations made of dental amalgam. Conclusions. The degree of surface spread of the restorations and the type of cavity may be taken into account as playing a major role in accelerating the functional wear of the amalgam-made restorations.
Keywords:- coronary restorations
- Ryge indices
- silver amalgam