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Amalgam
Amalgam
Guided By
• DEFINITION
• DENTAL AMALGAM
• NIH- NIDR & FDA Reexamined the issue ---- concluded that there is no
basis for the claim
USES
• Moderate to large Class I & II restorations.
• Class V restorations
• Foundations
• Caries control restoration
• For making dies.
• Earlier as retrograde rootcanal filling material.
INDICATION
• In clinical situations involving heavy occlusal
functioning.
• In less optimum conditions of moisture
control.
• Operator ability.
CONTRAINDICATION
• Anterior teeth and clearly visible surfaces of
posterior teeth.
• Remaining tooth structure requires support /
would require extensive preparation to
accommodate amalgam.
• Treatment of incipient / early primary fissure
caries.
ADVANTAGE
1. Ease of use
S
2. High compressive strength
3. Excellent wear resistance
4. Favorable long-term clinical results
5. Lower cost than for composite restorations
6. Bonded amalgams have "bonding" benefits:
• Less microleakage
• Less interfacial staining
• Minimal postoperative sensitivity
• Some retention benefits
• Esthetic benefit of sealing by not permitting the amalgam to
discolor the adjacent tooth structure
DISADVANTAGES
1. Noninsulating
2. Nonesthetic
3. Less conservative (more removal of
tooth structure during tooth preparation)
4. More difficult tooth preparation
5. Weakens tooth structure (unless bonded)
6. More technique sensitive if bonded
7. Initial marginal leakage
DENTAL AMALGAM ALLOY
• An alloy of silver, copper, tin and other
elements that is formulated and processed in
the form of powder particles or as
compressed pellet.
3RD
GENERATION
Admixture of spherical Ag ₃ – Cu eutectic alloy to the original alloy powder
4TH GENERATION
Alloying of copper to silver and tin , up to 29% form a ternary alloy in which
most of the tin is firmly bonded to copper.
5TH GENERATION
Alloying of silver, copper , tin and indium creates a true quaternary alloy, in
which almost none of the tin is available to react with mercury.
6TH
GENERATION
Alloying of palladium (10%),silver(62%), copper(28%),to form a eutectic alloy
which is lathe cut and blended into 1st , 2nd or 3rd generation amalgam in the
ratio of 1:2.
Classification of Amalgam Alloy
According to no. of alloyed metals Acc to shape of produced particles
– Binary alloys (Ag-Sn) – Spherical (Smooth-surfaced)
– Ternary alloys (Ag-Sn-Cu)
– Quaternary (Ag-Sn-Cu-In) – Lathe-cut (Irregular shaped)
– Admixed
Acc to particle size
– Microcut Acc to alloy Content
– Fine cut
- Unmixed
– Coarse
cut - Admixed
SILVER -69.4%
TIN -26.2%
COPPER - 2-5%
ZINC - 0.8%
ALSO CALLED CONVENTIONAL AMALGAM ALLOY
SETTING REACTION IN LOW COPPER
ALLOYS:
Alloy particles ( g
₁ ₂ unconsumed alloy particles.
• The physical properties of the
hardened amalgam depend
on the relative percentage of
each of the microstructural
phases.
• The weakest
component is the ₂
phase.
• Ag-Cu eutectic alloy (71.9% Ag and 28.1% Cu) particles are added
to lathe cut low copper amalgam alloy particles.
• Composition:-
Ag-69%
Sn-
17%
Cu-13%
• REACTION :
• ALLOY PARTICLES (+) + Ag-Cu eutectic + Hg
+ + UNCONSUMED ALLOY OF BOTH TYPES OF ₁
PARTICLES
•When Hg reacts with an admixed powder, Ag dissolves
• SILVER -60%
TIN -27%
COPPER -13%
SMALL AMOUNTS OF INDIUM AND PALLADIUM SEEN IN SOME
ALLOY
• Expansion >> 4%
• Pressure on pulp causing pain
• High point leading to occlusal interference causing pain
• Pressure on cavity walls resulting in tooth fracture and pain.
• Greater susceptibility to corrosion
• Expansion over the cavity margins causes fracture of the restoration
("ditched amalgam")
•
• Contraction >> than 50µ/cm
• Microleakage
• Secondary caries
• Plaque accumulation
STRENGTH
Amalgam Compressive strength Tensile ISO
(MPa) CREEP
strength
(MPa) (%)
1 hr 24 hrs 24 hrs
• Hg/Alloy ratio:
Increased Hg/Alloy ratio, decreased strength, because
increased Hg results in
– Decreased unreacted γ phase
– Increased γ2 phase
– Increased residual Hg (weakest phase) within
amalgam.
• Porosity
• Particle size: Decreased size ( 15 -35
results in increased strength (due to
increased surface area / unit volume)
• Particle shape: Regular uniform
shape result
in increased strength (due to more
wettability, more coherent mass, less
interrupted interphases)
• Electrochemical corrosion –
Galvanic, Crevice & Stress Corrosion.
• Methods:
• With mortar and pestle (trituration pressure 2-3 psi)
• With mechanical amalgamator
• Methods:
• Hand condensation
• Mechanical condensation( impact type of force , rapid
vibrations)