Friday Flops #14
Channel: Jarod W. Johnson D.D.S.
Date: 14/07/2023

Friday Flops!  Avoid slot preparations in primary teeth (unless you are temporizing due to behavior or proximity to exfoliation).  I am a strong believer that a Class II on a primary tooth is one of the most difficult procedures we do on kids.

This case presented in 2019 and a prior dentist had done a slot preparation on tooth #B.  They tend to have the outcome depicted here: fracture.  Extend your preparation on to the occlusal surface to give your restorative material enough strength.

I ended up treating this child with crowns on #A and #B and #B received an MTA pulpotomy at the time.  Here in 2023 we have a nice outcome!

To avoid this flop consider a SSC from the start in high risk kids, and avoid slot preparations in primary teeth.