Direct filling gold

Contents
 Introduction
 History
 Manufacturing process
 General Considerations
 Classification
 Types of Direct Filling Gold
1) Gold Foil
2) Electrolytic precipitate
3) Powdered Gold
 Removal of Surface Impurities -Annealing
 Condensation or Compaction
 Indications
 Contra Indications
 Cavity Designs
 Metallurgical Consideration
 Mechanical Considerations
• Biological Consideration.
 Sealability of Direct Gold Restoration
 Newer Introductions
 Decline in Direct Gold Restorations
 Conclusion
 References
 Introduction

 Since antiquity, pure gold has been a metal of special

intrinsic and practical value.
From the dawn of civilization until the present time, man
has utilized gold in some form or other in practice of
dentistry.

Very few metals are used in the pure state for dental
restorative purposes, gold being the outstanding exception.
Gold has fallen in popularity considerably, but it is
experiencing a resurgence of moderate proportions in North
America, Sweden and Germany.
 History
 1483 - First recommended by Giovenni d’Arcoli for filling
diseased teeth & he published his work as the first
evidence of use of gold.

 Philip Pfaff, dentist to Frederick of Great of Prussia used

gold foil for pulp capping.

 In 1795 Robert Woffendale introduced gold foil for

restoration purposes in America .

 1812 Marcus Ball of Hartford began producing beaten

gold for dental applications.
 1838 - E. Merrit introduced principles of condensation of
gold foil.

 In 1846 C.T. Jackson first introduced sponge (crystal or

crystalline) gold, which was easier to condense.

 1855 - Robert Arthur introduced the technique of annealing

pieces of sponge gold over a "spirit" lamp & discovered its
cohesive or adhesive property.

 1871 - Corrugated gold made by burning gold foil sheets

between paper in the absence of air.
CLASSIFICATION
 ACCORDING TO PHILLIP’S

FOIL SHEET COHESIVE

(FIBROUS GOLD) ROPES NON-COHESIVE

CYLINDERS
LAMINATED FOIL
PLATINISED FOIL

ELECTROLYTIC MAT GOLD

DIRECT
PRECIPITATE MAT FOIL (MAT GOLD+GOLD
FILLING
GOLD (CRYSTALLINE GOLD) FOIL)
GOLD - CALCIUM ALLOY

POWDERED GOLD
(ENCAPSULATED GOLD
POWDER)
 TYPES OF DIRECT FILLING GOLD
Gold foil Mat gold Powdered gold

E-Z gold
Gold foil (Fibrous Gold)
Oldest among all the forms.

Provided in sheets, pellets, cylinders, ropes & partially

precondensed laminates.

They are bound in the form of books of 1/10 or 1/20 oz

sheets.
Standard No.4 gold foil is supplied in 4 x 4 inch(100 x
100 mm) sheets that weigh 4 grains (0.259g) and are
about 0.51μm thick.

The numbering system refers to the weight of a

standard sheet and reflects the thickness.

Thus, No. 3 foil weighs 3grains (0.194 g) and is about

0.38μm thick.

Other 100X100 mm gold sheets are available

including No.20, 40, 60, 90 etc
Gold foil box
compartments labeled to
show pellet size

Gold foil
Forms of gold foils
i. Plain gold foil: a product of the cold working procedure
without any modifications.
Advantage - ease of manipulation & workability.

Disadvantage - requires time for manipulation because of its

softness & lack of mass.

ii. Preformed gold foil:

foil manufactured by placing a thin leaf
of paper between two sheets of gold foil after which the
whole unit is ignited.
 Made from no. 4 foil that has been carbonized or
corrugated.
As the paper leaves are burnt out, they become charred &
shrivel and impart a corrugated shape to the gold foil.
It is more cohesive than plain ones.

It is the outcome of great Chicago Fire of 1871.

 iii. Platinum gold
foil;
Produced by sandwiching platinum foil between two leaves of
gold foil; platinum increases the hardness of the finished
restoration.
•Platinum being 15% by weight.

• Uses-
i ) in areas of excessive stress such as the incisal edge of anterior
teeth and cusp tips.

ii) Crown repairs.

Disadvantages-
i) Difficult to finish & polish.

• Formed in 2 ways-:
1.One sheet of platinum foil in between two No.4 gold foils can be
hammered.
2.Layers of platinum & gold can be bonded by rolling over each
other & cladding process.
iv. Laminated gold foil:

 Made by combining two or three leaves of gold, each

from different ingots which have been cold worked in
different directions.

 So they can be resistant in different directions when

combined together.

 Has directional properties, i.e. resistant to stresses in

one direction better than the other.

 Are not available as performs but may be made by the

dentist by placing number of sheets on top of each
other, then cutting the laminate into pieces of desired
size.
 Types of preformed foils- Sheets
A) SHEETS- COHESIVE AND NONCOHESIVE

Only the sheet foil is furnished in both forms.

A) Cohesive Gold
It is gold foil which is free of surface contaminants .
Gases like oxygen are absorbed at the surface of the
gold, thus prevents bonding of gold during
compaction.
Only if gold surface is free from impurities it can be
welded at room temperature.

B) Non - Cohesive Gold

Ammonia treated foil is called Non - Cohesive gold.

Ammonia minimizes adsorption of other less volatile

substances & prevents premature cohesion of sheets.
 Non cohesive gold can also have adsorbed agents like iron
salt or an acidic gas on its surface.

This volatile film is readily removed by heating at 350oC

thereby restoring the cohesive character of the foil.

Uses-:
- to build up the bulk of a direct gold restoration.

Truely non cohesive foils, which have a permanent film, are

not available now.
B) Preformed foils – Ropes, Cylinders,
Laminated and Pellets :

Because the 4 x 4 inch sheets of foils are too large to use in

restorative procedures, they are rolled into ropes, cylinders
or pellets before insertion into cavity preparations.

Now ropes and cylinders are available in preformed shapes

Both are made from No.4 foil that has been “carbonized”
or “corrugated”.
Gold foil cylinder

 Produced by rolling cut segments of No. 4 foils

into a desired width, usually 3.2mm, 4.8mm
and 6.4mm using a modified No. 22 tapestry
needle.

 Pre rolled cylinders may be obtained from No.

2 gold foil, which are termed “Extra – Ply”, and
may be purchased in 1/10 – or 1/20 ounce vials.
- are more cohesive & are formed by wrapping
a loosely formed rope with an extra sheet
of gold foil.
-best suited for class I & V restorations.
 Gold foil pellets

 Pellets of gold foil are generally rolled from 1/32,

1/64 or 1/128 sections cut from no. 4 sheet foil.

The book of foil is marked and cut into squares or

rectangles.

Each piece is placed on clean finger tips, and the corners

are tucked into the center; then it is lightly rolled into pellet
form.
4 x 4’’ foil

Gold pellet
II) Electrolytic precipitated gold

Consists of microcrystalline gold powder formed by

electrolytic precipitation (Crystalline, Mat or
Sponge).

Thepowder consists of dendritic crystals

approximately 0.1 mm in length.

The powder is formed into shapes by sintering at an

elevated temperature below the melting
temperature of gold (1063 – 1945° C).

Sintering causes inter-diffusion between particles

where they are in contact, so the crystals actually
grow together (coalesce).
Electrolytic precipitated gold types-

A. Mat gold : It is a crystalline, electrolytically

precipitated gold form that is formed into strips.

B. Mat Foil : It is manufactured by sandwiching a

ribbon of mat gold between two regular cohesive
gold sheets.

C. Gold - Calcium alloy (Alloyed Electrolytic

Precipitate):

Newest form, Electralloy R V (alloyed with calcium).

 Mat gold

 Commonly available as either medium (2mm) or wide

(3mm) widths & 15 mm length strips.

 Advantages-:
i) preferred for its ease in building up the internal bulk of the
restoration because it can be more easily compacted into,
and adapted to, the retentive portions of the prepared
cavity.
ii) Rapid filling property.

 Disadvantages-:
i) its large surface area does not permit easy welding into a
solid mass as gold foil.
ii) greater tendency for voids that may show up as pits if it is
used on the surface of the restoration.

 However, foil is generally recommended for the external

surface of the restoration.
 Mat foil

 Mat foil is a sandwich of electrolytic precipitated gold

powder between sheets of No.3 gold foil.
 The sandwich is sintered and cut into strips of differing
widths. & desired length.
 Purpose of sandwiching mat was to eliminate the need to
veneer the restoration with a layer of foil.

 Advantages-:
i) Combined adaptability of mat gold with surface density of
gold foil, that was effective throughout the restoration.
 C) Alloyed Electrolytic Precipitate
The newest form of electrolytic precipitate is alloyed with
calcium & known as Electralloy R.V.

 Calcium content of the finished product is about 0.1%.

Purpose is to produce stronger restorations by dispersion

strengthening.

 It is available in strips and cut to desired length before insertion

into a cavity preparation.

Advantages-:

i) easy to manipulate.
ii) Higher density so fills the preparation faster.

Disadvantages-:
i) can cause bridging if improperly stepped.
ii) May create overcontouring during condensation.
Powdered gold/ spongy gold

 “Goldent” is powdered gold made by a combination of

chemical precipitation and atomization.

 Particle size range is 1 to 4 mm

 The atomized and chemically precipitated powders are

first mixed with a soft wax in order to form pellets.

 These are wrapped in No.2 ½ or No. 3 foil resulting in

cylindrical pellets available in several diameters and
lengths.

 Contain approximately 10 times more gold than a pellet

of gold foil of comparable size.
 Priorto its condensation the matrix is burnt away leaving only pure gold to be
packed in to the cavity

Advantages-:

i) Upon condensation spreads laterally from its point of impact; important for
early stages of condensation.

Overlaying with gold foil is recommended.

Powdered gold microstructure

Powder consist of spherical particles of 1.5mm in

diameter.
 E-Z Gold
E-Z Gold is a recent product similar to the older
Goldent.
- Dr. Lloyd Baum at Loma Linda University
Dental School developed E-Z gold in late 1980s

-Mixture of pure gold powder and wax (less than

0.01% organic wax), wrapped in gold, and
similar metallurgically to gold foil and powdered
gold (Goldent)
-When properly and thoroughly compacted, it
has comparable properties: inertness
(biocompatibility) and permanence.
-E-Z Gold's manipulative characteristics are
similar to that of a very stiff amalgam, yet more
sticky (cohesive) than gold foil, hence the name
E-Z Gold.

It was produced by Williams Gold refining Co.

New York.
- E-Z Gold: The new Goldent, Oper Dent. 1996 Jan-
 INDICATIONS OF DIRECT FILLING
GOLD
1. Small Class I carious lesions.

2. Small , cavitated Class V lesions.

3. Abraded, eroded or abfraction areas on the facial surfaces of

teeth.

4. Small Class III carious lesions.

5. Class II carious lesions in which marginal ridges are not

subjected to heavy occlusal forces.

6. Class VI restorations on incisal edges or cusp tips.

7. Lesions in vital teeth, having a sound pulp-dentin organ, intact

supporting periodontium and the ability to withstand
condensation forces..
CONTRA INDICATIONS OF DIRECT
FILLING GOLD

1. Teeth with very large pulp chambers.

2. Severely periodontally weakened teeth with

questionable prognosis.

3. When economics is a limiting factor.

4. In handicapped, elderly or very young patients who are

unable to sit for the longer dental appointment required.

5. Root canal filled teeth are generally not restored with

direct filling gold although they are the material of
choice to fill the access preparation in cast gold crowns.
MANIPULATION OF DFG

It consists of two stages, i.e.

1. Annealing / Heat treatment / Degassing.

2. Condensation / Compaction.
ANNEALING / DEGASSING /
DECONTAMINATING / HEAT TREATMENT
/ DESORBING -:

Desorption is heating long enough at a temperature that

will remove gases and in case of powder gold, burn away
the wax (6000F-13000F).

Objectives: -

I.To drive out impurities of the surface, thus making the

surface ready for cohesion.

II.To keep this surface devoid of any other impurities until

complete cohesion occurs during building of the
restoration.
 Application of thermal energy introduces
molecular motion in the contaminants,
vaporizing them off the surface.
 Data indicated that temperature below 315OC
(600OF) are not adequate to attain optimal
hardness of the compacted gold.
 Reversible gases (oxygen and ammonia) can
be readily removed by heat in the range of
900OF to 1300OF
Desorption can be done by: -

1. Piece method- A single piece is annealed at a time,

usually done by using a simple alcohol lamp & a gold
foil carrier.

Advantage –

•Lack of waste;

•Ability to select gold of desired size;

•Elimination of chance of contamination between

annealing & use.
2. Bulk method- Degassing of several gold
pellets at the same time. Mica tray are used.
Advantages-
•Convenient & takes lesser time as a whole.
Disadvantages-
•Accidental movement during heating can cause
sticking of the pellets to each other.
•Air currents may cause unequal heating thus poor
welding properties.
•Wastage of unused gold.
Methods of decontaminating &
degassing
1. By an open ALCOHOL
FLAME :
•Consists of picking up each piece individually,

heating it directly in the open flame and

placing it in prepared cavity.

•Fuel may be alcohol or gas, but acetone free

alcohol is preferred, as there is less chance of

contamination.
• Alcohol should be pure 90% methanol/ethanol

without any additives or colorants.

• Only the middle zone of the flame or the high

energy reducing zone (Blue Zone) should be used.

• Each piece is held for three to five seconds before

insertion with a gold foil carrier (Irridioplatinum

Wire or Nichrome wire).

Precautions-:

1. Lamp should not run out of fuel during the

procedure.

2. Lamp and wick should be free of waxes and

surface contaminants.

3. Wick should be trimmed to produce – teardrop

shaped clear light blue flame of ¾ inch in height.

4. Sulfur from the matchsticks should not adhere to

the wick.
Advantages-:

1.Selection of pieces of appropriate size.

2.Desorption of only those pieces which are to be

used.

3.Less exposure to contamination.

4.Uniformity, flexibility & immediate availability of

gold.
 Pellet of gold foil is degassed in pure
ethanol flame

Gold pellet must be heated1/2 to 1 inch above the ethanol

flame until a bright flame occurs caused by ignition of the wax
and the pellet becomes dull cherry red for 2-3 sec, then it is
2. Mica over a flame

•A sheet of mica can be used over any type of flame.

• Surface of the mica is divided into several areas to
indicate the time the pieces of gold were put on the
mica.
• Maximally, 5min are allowed for any piece of gold to
be heated on mica.
• Care should be taken not to handle pieces with
stainless steel wire points or similar instruments that
will contaminate gold.
 Mica tray mounted over
alcohol
 3. Electric Annealer: -

• Most controlled and standardized way of

decontaminating gold materials.
• Heating compartment is made of Aluminum.
• The surface of the heater is divided into small
compartments, each accommodating a piece of
direct gold.
• Maximally, 10min are allowed for any piece to be
kept in the electric decontaminator at 8000F .
Advantages-:

1.Electric heater controls the time and the

temperature.

2.Allows the operator to work alone.

Disadvantages -:

1.Any remaining gold needs to be discarded

because of possible irreversible contamination.

2.8000F may not be high enough for powdered

gold which require a temperature of 9000F-
12000F.
Electric annealer
OVERHEATING/ UNDERHEATING: -

1.Possibility of recrystallization or grain growth leading

to drop in the mechanical properties of the material.

2.Incorporation of impurities from the surrounding

atmosphere in the melting or very hot surface of gold.

3.Underheating does not adequately remove all surface

impurities resulting in incomplete cohesion.
 2. CONDENSATION /
COMPACTION
Condensation is the procedure used to condense and
harden the gold inside the cavity preparation.

A)Objectives:-

i) Wedge initial pieces between dentinal walls, especially at

starting points & build the restoration over them.

ii) Weld the gold pieces together by complete cohesion of

their space lattices.

iii) Strain hardening of gold materials which is due to the

cold working during condensation.
vi) To adapt gold materials into the cavity
walls and floors.

v) Elastically deform them into the dentin of

cavity walls and floors.

vi) To gain a uniform compactness by

eliminating voids between the gold pieces.

vii) To develop strength within the restoration.

B) Modes of Condensation:

1.Hand instrument condensation

2.Hand condensation and Mallet

3.Pneumatic condensation

4.Electronic condensation
C) Gold Condensers:

They are provided in different shapes

1. Round condensers

2. Parallelogram condensers

3. Foot condensers
Gold Condensers

Common feature – faces are serrated with

pyramidal shaped configurations.
Accomplish 3 functions –
1. Increase the surface area of the condenser
face.
2. Act as swaggers, thus creating lateral forces.
3. Establish some triangular indentations.
METHODS OF CONDENSATION-
1. Hand Pressure Condensation
2. Hand Malleting
3. Mechanical Condensation.
Hand pressure Condensation –

i. Round condensers (Bayonet condenser): Used in

initial restoration phase and to establish `ties‘ in
the inner parts of the restoration.
- 0.4-0.55 mm in diameter.
ii. Varney Foot Condensers : Used mainly for
cavosurface condensation, surface hardening of
the restoration and for bulk build-up. -face-1-
1.3 mm.
iii. Parallelogram and Hatchet Condensers:
Used for preliminary condensation and to create the
bulk of restoration. face -0.5-1mm.
2. Hand Malleting –

- Used for general condensation of gold foil & for

adaptation of denser cohesive golds into
retention areas after hand pressure
condensation.
- Long handled condensers & small leather-faced
mallet are used.
- Condenser face is flat & serrated.
- It is directed towards the area to be condensed
& is struck with series of light blows by the 5-
ounce mallet.

- Condensing force can be checked by tapping

the end of the thumbnail with a mallet.

- If this tapping causes discomfort, the force is

too great.
3. Mechanical Condensation –

-2 instruments –

1.Hollenback Pneumatic Condenser

2.McShirley Electro-Mallet

-They are used either with straight angled or right

angled handpiece.
1. Hollenback Pneumatic
Condenser –
- The impact force is regulated
by adjusting a knurled knob at
the rear of the handpiece.
- No. of blows per minute is
regulated by a rheostat to the
electric motor.
- Condensed specimens show
hardness & density similar to
those obtained by hand
malleting.
2. McShirley Electro-Mallet –
- The frequency of impact may be
adjusted with the maximum
capability of 3600 blows per
minute.
- The force of the blows is
adjustable.
- Lighter blows of higher frequency
are employed providing greater
comfort to patient.
- Produces good clinical
restorations when properly used.
 Procedure of condensation

• Compaction begins when a piece of gold is placed

in a tooth preparation.

• The Gold is first pressed to place by hand.

• Then a condenser of suitable size is used to begin

malleting in the center of mass.

• Each succeeding step of the condenser overlaps (by

half) the previous one as the condenser is moved
towards the periphery.
• The gold moves under the nib face of the
condenser, effecting compaction as malleting
proceeds.

• Most efficient compaction occurs directly under

nib face.

• Some compaction occurs by lateral movement of

the gold against surrounding preparation walls.
 The result is –
- To remove most of the void space from
within each increment of gold,
- To compact the gold into line & point
angles & against walls &
- To attach it to any previously placed
gold via cohesion.
PRINCIPLES OF CONDENSATION

1.Line of force –

•It is that direction through which the force is

exerted by the condenser.

•It is parallel to an extension of the long axis of

the shaft of the instrument regardless of the
deflection or angle of the working point.
• According to Black, the line of force must be
directed at an angle of 45o to cavity walls and
floors i.e should bisect line angles and trisect
point angles formed by the cavity walls.

• Forces of condensation must be directed at 90o

to previously condensed gold to avoid shear
components which can displace or loosen the
already condensed pieces of gold.
 Line of force (a) remains parallel with shaft or
handle of condenser regardless of any angles in
shank of instrument.
2. Bridging

 When an improper building shelf is produced a

bridging occurs, i.e. the gold bulges and
produces a convexity in the material,
preventing the condenser from reaching the
cavity wall, causing porosity.
• Prevents the proper lines of force from
being applied and thus resulting in poor
adaptation.

• Can be prevented by uniform

placement of the material and
adequate condensation using the
proper lines of force.
 Most important rule is to keep the gold
banked against the walls until the
cavosurface margin is reached thus
creating a concavity.
3. Stepping of the condenser

Refers to the overlapping (by one fourth of its diameter)

of the previous area of the condenser's stroke both in
individual steps and in lines of steps.

Stepping can be done in two ways –

a. In rows parallel to the wall being approached moving

toward this wall, row by row and wedging the last row
between the already condensed gold and the wall.

b. In rows perpendicular to the wall being approached.

 Always start at a point on one side and proceed in a
straight line to another point on the opposite side then
back to the original side on a different straight line.
 This ensures that the condenser has covered the entire
surface of that piece of gold.
 Significance
1. Ensures that each portion of the gold increment has
been welded and cold worked.
2. No voids
3. Maximal adaptation
4. Denser restoration
 4. Pellet placement
• It refers to the exact location at which each pellet of gold
foil is placed in order to ensure correct building of the
gold.

• Each pellet should be placed where needed to be

condensed, not moved around after original placement.

• Accurate placing is essential to correct gold building.

• Condensers used are usually pyramidal or triangular and

prevent slippage of the pellet or mass of mat or
powdered gold.

• They are used in proximal class III restoration because

Pellet placement

Minimal thickness of pellet should be used. The

thinner the cross-section of each increment is, the
easier is the fulfilment of the objectives of
condensation.
Fundamentals of cavity preparation
for direct filling gold:
Outline form :

• Margins must not be ragged

• Margins should be established on sound areas of the tooth that can

be finished & polished.

•Should include all structural defects.

• Marginal outline must be designed to be esthetically pleasing.

•Initial depth into the dentin: 0.5 mm from DEJ.

0.75mm from cementum.

Resistance form :

• Pulpal wall: flat and perpendicular to occlusal

forces.

• No unsupported enamel.

• Suitable thickness of remaining dentin should be

provided.
Retention form :
• Parallelism of walls and should be smooth and flat
(to provide resistance to loosening of the gold
during compaction).
• Sharp internal line angles and point angles.
Convenience form :

• Acquired by suitable access.

• Dry field.

• Additional access – gingival retraction (for Class V

restoration) or separators (to provide 0.5 mm
separation between teeth in Class III restorations.
I. CLASS I CAVITY
A. SIMPLE CLASS - I IN MOLARS AND
PREMOLARS
1.General Outline form
Modifications.

Angular corners Spear like

extension
2. Location of the Margins

•facial and lingual margins

inclined planes of the corresponding
cusps or marginal ridges.

•mesial and distal margins

inclined planes of the corresponding
ridge, very close to the adjacent pits.

•Width of the cavity - 1/5th of the 1/5

intercuspal
intercuspal distance. distance
3. Internal Anatomy

•Definite, very angular line and point angles.

•Flat pulpal floor.

•Cavosurface margin should be bevelled at 45o to

the direction of the enamel rods and should
include at least 1/4th of the enamelbevel
wall.
B. COMPOUND OR COMPLEX CLASS – I
CAVITY

1. General Outline Form

Facial and lingual extensions

parallelogram in shape.

Parallelogram
shaped
 Rounded
Angular
2. Internal Anatomy
• Have starting points at the mesial
and distal axio gingival corners of the
facial and lingual extensions.

• The junction between the dentinal

portion of the cavity walls and floors
are angular.

• The junction between the partial

bevels on the cavosurface margins
should be rounded.

Starting points
C. SIMPLE CLASS - I CAVITY ON THE LINGUAL
SURFACE OF ANTERIOR TEETH AND AT THE FACIAL
AND LINGUAL PIT AREAS OF UPPER AND LOWER
MOLARS
 General outline form -
is tear drop shape or
triangular, with the Triangular/
base of the triangle
facing gingivally. tear drop
shaped
 Internal Anatomy - flat axial wall,
following the same angulation as the
adjacent surface and surrounding
walls in three planes-:
1.an internal, undercut, dentinal
plane;
2. straight second plane formed of
enamel and a dentin;
3. third plane which is the partial
bevel.
Internal
 The junction of the components of the undercut bevel
outer plane are rounded and of the
internal plane are in angular fashion.
Class I Preparation :

No.330 bur - Pear shaped normal length - initial entry.

Occlusal cavosurface bevel – White stone.
Bevel may be placed with angle former.
A flat beaver tail burnisher used with heavy hand pressure to
harden the surface gold.
A cleoid – discoid carver is used to continue the burnishing
process and remove excess gold on the cavosurface margin.
A small round finishing bur (no.9004) is used for polishing.
Followed by application of flour of pumice & tin oxide or white
sponge.
Abrasives are applied dry with soft rubber cups in a slow speed
hand piece.
Gentle blast of air cool.
II. CLASS II CAVITY
3 designs –
Inverted truncated
cone

A. CONVENTIONAL DESIGN
1. General Outline for
proximal outline form is a one
sided inverted truncated cone
 The inverted truncation is at the
expense of the functional cusp
side.
 3. Internal Anatomy
i. Mesio - distal Cross Section
 Gingival floor perfectly flat,
perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth. MD cross-section
 If the gingival margin is located on the-:

A .gingival 1/3 of the proximal surface-the

gingival floor will be in two planed-:
1. an inner, dentinal plane
2. an outer enamel dentinal plane Inner plane

B. middle 1/3 of the proximal surface, (as in

Outer
young, incompletely erupted teeth), the plane
gingival floor will be formed of one plane
made of enamel and dentin.
 All line angles except the axiopulpal
should be very sharp.
ii. Facio - lingual Cross section

Axial wall convex, following the curvature of the proximal

surface;

Convex axial wall

Facial and lingual walls are in reverse S-
shape and a partial bevel on the proximal
extent of the cavity walls.
Cross sections indicate the triangular
Reverse S shaped
retention area at the expense of the
curve
dentinal portion of the facial and lingual
walls of the proximal part of the cavity
preparation.
The base of the triangle is at the gingival
floor level and the tip of the triangle is at
the pulpal floor level.
 These triangular areas are also acts as the
Triangular retention area
starting points for formation of gold ties
along the axiogingival line angle.
B. Class II CONSERVATIVE DESIGN

1. General Outline form

Minimal occlusal involvement

2. Location of the Margins

 It is similar to the design for amalgam
restorations.
3. Internal anatomy
A. Mesio - distal Cross Section
The axial wall is very
slanted and formed of
dentin and enamel.
 Towards the occlusal, the
enamel is partially
bevelled. Slanted axial wall
B. Facio - lingual Cross Section
 Axial wall is slightly rounded.

Starting points-
 may be prepared at the
gingivofacioaxial,gingivolinguo
axial point angles Starting pt’s for
condensation
 III. CLASS III CAVITY

There are three types of designs for Class - III cavity

preparation-
A.FERRIER DESIGN
Indications: -

1.Used when bulky labial, lingual, and incisal walls remain after
the removal of carious and undermined tooth structure.

2. Used if the labial extension of the carious lesion facilitates

minimal extension of the cavity preparation labially.

3. More indicated for the distal proximal surfaces of anterior teeth

than for the mesial proximal surfaces.

4.If the periodontium & bone support allows separation of the

teeth.
General Outline form
Triangular in shape, involving about two third to one half
of the proximal surface.
2. Location of the Margins

Does not encroach

 Facial margin parallel to the marginal ridge
calcification lobes.
- minimally extended in the labial
embrasure, especially for mesial cavity
preparations.

 Lingual margin should not encroach

on the marginal ridge.

 Gingival margin located 1/2 to 1mm

apical to the free healthy gingiva,
following a straight line labio lingually.

 Incisal margin located in the contact St. labiolingually

area. ½-1mm coronal to
gingiva
 3. Internal Anatomy

i.Labio- lingual Cross Section : Axial wall is rounded, but does

not follow the convexity of the proximal surface.

ii. Inciso - gingival Cross Section : Incisal wall is formed of

three or four planes,
1) i.e. an inner dentinal plane, which is the part of the boxed
incisal retention form;
2) a transition plane formed completely of dentin;
3)an outer enamelodentinal plane following the direction of
enamel rods
4) a partial enamel bevel plane.

Incisal retention
extended inciso-
labio-axially
 Axial wall appears ranging
from flat to slightly rounded.

 Gingival wall is also formed of

four planes.

iii. All line and point angles

should be sharp except at the Axial wall is slightly rounded
junction of line angles of the
cavity preparation.
B. THE LOMA - LINDA DESIGN

Used when a combination of powdered

gold build - up with a cohesive gold foil
veneer is used.

 Indications
1. Used when the access is lingual due to the care
for esthetics and or due to the caries extent.
2. When the lingual marginal ridge is lost or
undermined
 CLASS III CAVITY -Loma-Linda
design

Incisal/gingival
turn

Triangular Includes
with rounded lingual
corners marginal ridge

Rt angle to the
axial wall
Rounded
line & point bevel
angles
1. General Outline form

Triangular with rounded corners

The Proximal portion of the design
will be in triangular shape with
rounded corners.

2. Location of Margins
Gingival margins are similar to the
Ferrier design.

Lingualmargin is located to include Includes the

the marginal ridge marginal ridge
C. INGRAHAM DESIGN

Indicated primarily for incipient proximal lesions in anterior

teeth where esthetics are the main concern.
1. General outline form
 Simple parallelogram in shape.

2. Locations of the margins

Labial margin in the contact area.
Gingival margin clear the contact area in the gingival
embrasure.
Incisal margin within the contact area.
Lingual margin on the lingual surface past the
marginal ridge, and or axial angle of the tooth.
 Class III – Ingraham design

-Flat Axial wall

Parallelogram -Right angles
shaped to labial surface

Retention
Flat axial
triangle
wall in labial third
in lingual
third
IV. CLASS - V CAVITY

 There are four types of long arm

designs are there for class
V cavity preparation.

A. FERRIER DESIGN

1. General outline form

 Trapezoidal in shape, with
the short arm gingivally and short arm
the long arm occlusally.
 Advantages of trapezoidal form-:

i. Most convenient and conservative form for the

gingival third lesions.
ii. Most esthetic.
iii. Provide prompt paving and margination of the
restoration.
iv. Assures safe condensation.
v. Facilitates bulkiest retention forms.
2. Location of the Margins

Gingival margin half way into the

gingival crevice. Occlusal margin
parallel to
occlusal plane
Mesial and distal margins should
be partly covered by the gingiva in
its ascending path to the
interproximal col and partly at, but
not involving the axial line angle of
the tooth;

Occlusal margin at, but not

including the height of contour.


Halfway into
It should be parallel to the gingival
margin and both should be parallel gingival crevice
to the occlusal plane.
 B. PROXIMAL PAN HANDLE EXTENSION
DESIGN
1.General outline form
Facial part

It consists of two portions, i.e.

1. Facial or lingual part same as the

Ferrier design.
2. Proximal part in the shape of
parallelogram as an extension from the
facial (or lingual) in the proximal direction. Proximal
part
2. Location of the Margins
facial and lingual portions same as in
the Ferrier design.

Allmargins should be located in the Proximal part

gingival embrasure, and can extend
proximally to the opposite facial or lingual parallelogram in sha
embrasures.
C. UNI OR BILATERAL ‘MOUSTACHE'
EXTENSIONS
DESIGN

 Indication

to restore surface defects, occlusal to the height

of contour which are continuous with a
gingival 1/3 lesion.

1. General Outline form

 As the name implies, the design appears as a

unilateral or bilateral moustache shape.
2. Location of margins and
Internal Anatomy

Margins are similar to the Ferrier

Design.

Straight mesial & distal

Theadditional extension portions walls
have straight mesial and distal walls
which end at a point occlusally.
ending in points

The mesial and distal walls possess

the same partial enamel bevel as the
rest of the cavity preparation.

Additional extensions
occlusally
D. PARTIAL MOON (CRESCENT) SHAPE
DESIGN

Indications
1.Very apical location and gingival inclination of the height
of the contour.

2. Danger of the restoration affecting the esthetics.

3. Mostly indicated in upper and lower cuspids and in upper

first molars.

1. General Outline Form

Semi - lunar shaped since the occlusal margin should follow
the height of contour.
 Semi - lunar shape occlusal margin following
the height of contour.

 Mesial, distal and gingival margins

follow the curvature of the gingiva
and there is no demarcation
between these margins.
 Occlusal or incisal margin follows
the curvature of the height of Semi - lunar shape
contour , without including the occlusal margin
following the height
height of contour.
of contour.
 STEPS FOR INSERTION OF DFG

1. Three step build - up Tie formation

i.Tie formation : is the connecting of
two opposing point angles or starting
points filled with gold with a transverse
bar of gold. It forms the foundation for
the restoration.

ii. Banking of walls : It is the covering of

each wall from its floor or axial wall to the
cavosurface margin with the direct gold.

A wall should be banked in such a way

that, it will not obstruct tie formation or Banking of walls
banking of other walls in the cavity.
 Tying in of gold

Starting gold foil with a holding instrument each

pellet is built onto the previous one and is
stabilized until the mass can be wedged
between opposing walls
iii. Shoulder formation :
Itis the connecting of two
opposing walls with the direct gold
to complete the build up

Shoulder formation
2. Paving of the Restoration
It is the individual covering of every area of cavosurface margin
portion with excess cohesive gold foil. A foot condenser is used
for this purpose.

3. Surface hardening
Done to fulfill the rest of the condensation objectives and to
strain harden the surface gold.

4. Burnishing
Should be done from gold to tooth surface.
It enhances surface hardening, adapts restoration to the margins
and eliminates voids.
5. Margination
Done with sharp instruments like knives and files
moving from the gold surface to the tooth surface
to eliminate excess material.

6. Burnishing
It follows margination to close marginal
discrepancies and to strain harden the surface.

7. Contouring
Done to create the proper anatomy of the
restoration to coincide with that of the tooth. Done
with knives, files or finishing burs.
8. Additional Burnishing
Done to fulfill previously mentioned objectives.

9. Finishing and Polishing

Done by using precipitated chalk or tin oxide powder on
soft bristle brushes or rubber cups.

10. Final Burnishing

Done to ensure closure of marginal voids and other
surface discrepancies.
REFERENCES

 Operative dentistry- modern theory and practice – M.A.

Marzouk.

 Art & Science of operative dentistry –5th ed –Sturdevant.

 Principles and practices of operative dentistry – G.T.

Charbeneau 3rd ed.

 Phillips’ Science of dental materials- 11th ed.

 Textbook of operative dentistry- Lloyd Baum, 3rd ed.