Abstract: Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of treating proximal cavities which have a shallow gingival wall by filling them with glass-ionomer cement and silver amalgam (double filling method). Methods 78 proximal cavities from 74 patients that have a shallow gingival wall were filled randomly by double filling method or silver amalgam alone. The success rates of filling were compared one year later. Results Compared with the silver amalgam alone method, the double filling method significantly improved the success rate of filling (87.23% vs. 61.29%, P<0.01). The total success rate of filling molar cavities was slightly higher than that of filling bicuspid cavities (78.79% vs. 75.56%), with no statistical significance. Conclusions The double filling method can significantly improve the success rate of filling the proximal cavities which have a shallow gingival wall.

Key words: Caries treatment, proximal cavity, glass-ionomer cement, silver amalgam