Which of the following is NOT a finishing step after carving?

• A. Remove excess material.
• B. Smooth margins.
• C. Check occlusion.
• D. Re-etch and bond.

Answer: (D)

Finishing after carving is about refining the restoration’s shape and surface to a smooth, functional finish. That means removing any remaining excess material, smoothing and blending the cavosurface margins, and checking the bite to ensure there are no high spots that could wear or irritate the surrounding tissues. Re-etch and bond, on the other hand, is a bonding procedure used with resin-based restorations. Amalgam does not rely on enamel or dentin bonding, so etching and applying adhesive afterwards aren’t part of finishing an amalgam restoration. Applying re-etch and bond after carving would not improve an amalgam here and could even complicate the finish.