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All About Sandwich Restorations


What is a sandwich?

When I first heard the term 'sandwich' in dental school, I was incredibly confused and hungry. At the end of the day, a sandwich is just a restoration which contains lining material and the final restorative material. In other words, it has many layers.


What are the types of sandwiches?


Open sandwich

An open sandwich usually refers to restorations with many layers in direct, open contact with oral tissues. Most of them are partially sub-gingival.


Closed sandwich

A closed sandwich refers to restorations containing many layers which are closed off from the oral tissues.


What is the more popular dental order - Open or Closed Sandwich?

Generally, there is no evidence to suggest that closed sandwiches are any better than the restorations just by themselves. Hence, not many dentists like closed sandwiches. There is no evidence to support their use and at the same time, it takes more steps than a regular restoration.


However, there are open sandwiches commonly seen in dentistry. The reason is because lining materials are easier to manipulate in moist conditions than composite. Hence, when given a subgingival caries case, clinicians would use GIC or other lining materials to first build the cavity up at a equal level to the gingiva. Subsequently, composite resin may be added for support.


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