Central America Dental Care Question

[Doc Smile]

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Hey everybody,

I have a quick question. In hispanic populations, many children have these restorations or caps around their anterior teeth. They look like a amalgam box around their main tooth structure. Does anyone know what these are called? They kinda look like a grill from 6 year olds with remaining tooth structure.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[reapply2007]

They're called Class IV amalgam. Use a round burr and carve a trough. Could also do gold inlay if you prefer.

 

[Doc Smile]

They're called Class IV amalgam. Use a round burr and carve a trough. Could also do gold inlay if you prefer.

Thanks but this isnt what I was trying to get at. The restoration I am speaking of isnt practiced, or taught, in the US. When I did a medical mission trip to costa rica and nicaragua we saw a bunch of children with these types of things and often they had a crack because of the metal. They are on the anterior teeth only (as far as I know). Like a janky version of some grillz. I am not sure if they are actually restorations. They leave the labial service as unaltered dentition but the MDI surfaces are either covered with a type of metal or are restored. From my understanding it is considered more preventative than restorative. Just trying to look for a name of this treatment method.