Amalgam 2 Flashcards
Allot composition affects durability. There have been … controlled clinical trials.
On who?
- 14
- class 1 and 2, 5-15 year follow up, 3119 restorations
Explain the clinical trials on durability of alloys
- divided into 4 groups
- zinc (free or containing)
- copper (conventional or high)
- failures reason assessed as related to restoration, process or patient
Results of durability of alloy trials
- 481 failed restorations
- 77% failed due to restoration
- 80% due to fracture of amalgam
- conventional zinc-free has shortest
- high copper zinc-containing longest
Mechanical properties of amalgam
- hard
- rigid
- brittle
- strong in compression, weak in tension
- low flexural strength
How is strength developed in amalgam over time?
What to tell patient?
- slowly
- danger of early fracture so patients warned
- alloy powder side influences setting rate - smaller particles leads to faster strength development
Key features of cavity design and placement of amalgam
- sufficient bulk
- avoidance of thin amalgam sections
- final mercury content of less than 50%
What variables can be manipulated with amalgam?
- proportioning/mixing
- mercury to alloy ratio
- trituration - mixing by grinding
- mercury hygeine
Why is proportions and mixing
manipulated?
- ease
- reproducibility
- safety
How can the mercury alloy ratio be manipulated?
- enough mercury for fluid mix
- less than 50% mercury for good properties
Why is trituration manipulated?
- ease
- reproducibility
- safety
Why is mercury hygeine manipulated?
- to protect patient
- and dental personnel
4 stages of manipulation of amalgam
- proportioning and mixing
- condensing
- carving
- polishing
Difference between traditional and modern proportioning
- traditionally done by dentist or assistant
- now encapsulated products
Final strength of amalgam depends on …
- keeping as much gamma as possible
- reducing mercury concentration to 40-45% in set material
- mercury to alloy ratio is important
Explain traditional trituration
- done by hand
- mortar/pestle
- required a wet mix (8:5 mercury to alloy)
- took 40 seconds
- resulted in excess mercury - and weakness therefore
What is trituration?
mixing by grinding
How is trituration done now?
- an amalgamator
- requires less mercury 1:1 if possible
- mechanical for 8-15 secs