"Clinton C Zimmerman" <clintonz@prodigy.net> wrote.................

is

Sure, it would probably be a poor assessment though.

I took organic and studied spectroscopy in a few other courses way back
when.  Even with the help of some websites I'm certain that I would do a
poor job of interpreting that stuff now.  I have just enough knowledge of it
now to butcher reading one.

carabelli

Actually, nowhere. But dentists will agree what is good, and what is
bad.

Its like masons looking at a brick wall, or carpenters looking at a
set of stairs.

Joel

   
1) The filling should look good (good meaning it is esthetically
acceptable to the patient, given the location of the mouth.
2) The tooth should not hurt, except where it is expected to show
transient postop sensitivity.
3) The bite feels good.
4) Interproximal contacts are tight.  Floss should have some resistance
to placement between the teeth.  If floss slides between the teeth
passively, food will too and this can be both an annoyance and cause gum
problems.
5) The margins are closed and smooth.  It is unlikely a patient can do this.
5) The filling anatomy should be smooth and appropriate, with correct
emergence profiles.  It is unlikely a patient can do this.
6) Amalgam should be properly triturated and well-condensed.  Neither
another dentist nor the patient will be able to evaluate this, except in
perhaps the most egregious situations.  Ideally, amalgams are polished.
 This greatly improves quality, marginal seal, decreases corrosion, and
generally will allow amalgams to hold up much longer.  Composites must
be placed using correct bonding technique, without dessicating the
dentine, and using multiple applications of bonding agent, and
thoroughly evaporating the solvent.  Generally it must be built up in
layers, except that some resins claim to have an adequate cure depth of
up to 5 mm.  Neither the patient nor the dentist will be able to tell if
good technique was used, except that postoperative sensitivity is far
more likely if technique was spotty.

    The bottom line is that you go to an expert because you think they know
more than you do.  If I felt I was smart enough to fix my car, I might
have been able to avoid a bunch of crummy mechanics.  Getting a good
recommendation for a pediatrician, an accountant, or a guitar repairman
from someone who has had opportunity to use the professional over a
period of time and has the judgement to be  able to evaluate his/her
competence is the way to go, understanding that we're all human and
capable of mistakes (except, of course, for my wife).
    If I had to evaluate every service and product I use, I'd have to move
to that mountain shack and become a hermit.

Steve