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Click on photos to enlarge.
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This is a third molar removed from a
33-year-old patient. Note how nature over time creates a broad oval
contact. Your restoration should duplicate nature’s wear. A tight
contact with width as well as depth is stable and prevents food
impaction. |
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Set up for a Class II composite on
an extracted tooth. |
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Composite completed in the same
manner as done routinely in the mouth. with one exception. The contact
area etched for a full minute with 37% phosphoric acid. |
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Contact bond broken with metal
spatula. |
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Band slides out smoothly. |
Straight on
view of composite contact |
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Occlusal view
of composite contact |
Contact area still has a gloss in
spite of the purposely over etched opposing tooth enamel. This is why the
bond is easily broken with a spatula.
There was no harm done to the opposing
tooth enamel. The etched area will re-mineralize. The contact is not
vulnerable to caries because Class II caries occur below the tooth to
tooth contact for an obvious reason. This is where the plaque
accumulates.
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Competed restoration
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