Restoration removal with and without the aid of magnification

This study aims to quantify any cavity size change following removal of too th-coloured restorations in vitro using unaided vision and 2.6x magnificati on. Occlusal composite restorations were removed under simulated clinical c onditions and changes in cavity size were measured, blind to method, using standardized photographs. The outline of the cavity was digitized and its a rea was used as a surrogate for cavity size. The change in cavity size was determined for unaided vision and 2.6x magnification, with any differences between the techniques investigated. There were significant increases in ca vity size using both techniques and although the increase in size was less when magnification was used, the difference was not statistically significa nt. Cavity size changes significantly during re-restoration and the use of magnification may be of benefit for some clinicians in reducing the size of the change.