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Pediatric Dentistry · single question

A 55-year-old patient has a fractured occluso-mesiodistal amalgam on tooth #30 (placed two weeks ago). Tooth #31 has an occluso-mesial amalgam, and other amalgams are present. He now requests that all amalgams be replaced at once. What is the most appropriate management?

  1. Place a crown on #30 and discuss the option of replacing the other amalgams
  2. Place crowns on both #30 and #31
  3. Place a crown on #30 and replace all amalgams at once
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Correct answer: A. Place a crown on #30 and discuss the option of replacing the other amalgams

  • A. CORRECT. Treat the failed restoration on #30 (a large MOD amalgam that fractured is a crown indication), then educate the patient. Serviceable restorations should not be replaced without indication.
  • B. INCORRECT. Tooth #31 has no described failure, so a crown there is not justified.
  • C. INCORRECT. Replacing sound restorations only because the patient asks is supervised neglect of healthy tooth structure and is not evidence based.

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