Amalgam and Composite Restorations Flashcards
7 cards from real EFDA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Amalgam and Composite Restorations flashcards as text
Which symptom is MOST consistent with microleakage around a composite restoration?
Answer: Recurrent caries at the restoration margin months later
Microleakage allows bacteria and oral fluids to seep under the restoration margin, leading to secondary (recurrent) caries over time.
The proper technique for burnishing an amalgam restoration just before initial set is called:
Answer: Pre-carve burnishing
Pre-carve burnishing is performed with a large burnisher to adapt amalgam to cavity walls and develop a mercury-lean surface layer before carving.
Composite restorations are contraindicated in patients who:
Answer: Cannot maintain adequate moisture control or have a known methacrylate allergy
Composite bonding requires a dry field; poor moisture control leads to bond failure, and methacrylate allergy is a contraindication to resin-based materials.
When adapting gingival margins of an amalgam Class II restoration, which instrument is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Gingival margin trimmer
Gingival margin trimmers are designed to bevel and smooth the gingival floor and walls, creating proper margin angles in Class II preparations.
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of polishing an amalgam restoration 24 hours after placement?
Answer: Remove surface tarnish and reduce plaque retention by smoothing the surface
Polishing an aged amalgam removes surface irregularities and tarnish, producing a smooth surface that is more resistant to corrosion and plaque accumulation.
A self-etch adhesive system differs from a total-etch system in that it:
Answer: Simultaneously conditions and primes dentin without a separate etch step
Self-etch adhesives contain acidic monomers that etch and prime simultaneously, simplifying placement but generally producing weaker enamel bonds than total-etch.
The EFDA should inform the dentist if, during composite finishing, the restoration feels 'soft' or scratches easily because this indicates:
Answer: Incomplete polymerization requiring additional curing or replacement
A soft or easily scratched composite surface indicates inadequate polymerization, likely due to insufficient curing time, distance, or light intensity.