AMALGAM

DEFINITION

 Dental amalgam is a metal like restorative

material composed of a mixture of
silver/tin/copper alloy and mercury.
 HISTORY
 Amalgam has been primary restorative
material for more than 150 yrs.
 Initially, amalgam restorations were made
by dentists filing silver coins and mixing
the filings with mercury.
 This was made to a putty like mass that
was placed into the defective tooth.
 USES
 AS CLASS 1,2,5 RESTORATION.
 AS FOUNDATION- IN COMBINATION
WITH RETENTIVE PINS TO RESTORE
CROWN.
 FOR MAKING DIES.
 FOR RETROGRADE ROOT CANAL
FILLING.
 AS CARIES CONTROL RESTORATION.
Components of dental amalgam

1)Amalgam alloy
2)Mercury
CLASSIFICATION
 Classification of dental amalgam
alloys

BASED ON Cu CONTENT

HIGH Cu ALLOYS LOW Cu ALLOYS

> 6% Cu < 6% Cu

ADMIXED

REGULAR UNICOMPOSITION

SINGLE COMPOSITION
 BASED ON Zn CONTENT

Zn CONTAINING Zn FREE ALLOY

> 1% Zn < 1% Zn
 BASED ON SHAPE OF ALLOY

LATHECUT SPHERICAL ADMIXED

 BASED ON NUMBER OF ALLOY METAL

BINARY TERTIARY QUATERNARY

Ag,Sn Ag,Sn,Cu Ag,Sn,Cu,Zn

 BASED ON SIZE OF ALLOY

MICROCUT \FINE CUT MACROCUT \COURSE CUT

 MANUFATURE OF ALLOY POWDER

 1)LATHECUT ALLOY POWDER

 2)SPHERICAL ALLOY POWDER
 COMPARISON OF LATHECUT WITH
ATOMIZED SPHERICAL POWDER
 AMALGAM FROM LATHECUT \ ADMIXED POWDER,TEND
TO RESIST CONDEN-SATION BETTER THAN AMALGAM
MADE ENTIRELLY FROM SPHERICAL POWDER.
 AMALGAM OF SPHERICAL POWDER ARE VERY PLASTIC-
CANNOT RELY ON PRESSURE OF CONDENSATION TO
ESTABLISH PROXIMAL CONTOUR.
 SPHERICAL ALLOYS REQUIRE < Hg THAN LATHECUT
ALLOY DUE TO SMALL SURFACE AREA PER VOLUME .
 AMALGAM WITH LOW Hg CONTENT –BETTER
PROPERTIES.
COMPOSITION
 COMPOSITION
Low Copper:
Silver - 63-70%
Tin - 26-29%
Copper - 2-5%
Zinc – 0-2%
Admixed:
Silver – 40-70%
Tin - 26-30%
Copper-13-30%
Zinc - 0-1%
Unicompositional :
Silver- 40-60%
Tin - 22-30%
Copper-13-30%
Zinc -0%
FUNCTION OF EACH CONSTITUENT

 SILVER:-
 MAJOR ELEMENT.
 WHITENS ALLOY.
 DECREASES CREEP.
 INCREASES STRENGTH.
 INCREASES EXPANSION ON SETTING.
 INCREASES TARNISHING RESISTANCE IN
RESULTING AMALGAM.
 TIN:-
 CONTROLS THE REACTION BETWEEN Ag &
Hg.
 REDUCES STRENGH & HARDNESS.
 REDUCES RESISTANCE TO TARNISH &
CORROSION.

 COPPER:-
 INCREASES HARDNESS & STRENGTH.
 INCRESES SETTING EXPANSION.
 ZINC:-
 SMALL AMOUNT –NOT AFFECT SETTING
REACTION \ PROPERTIES OF AMALGAM.
 ACT AS A SCAVENGER \ DEOXIDISER.
 WITHOUT Zn ALLOYS ARE MORE BRITTLE &
AMALGAM FORMED LESS PLASTIC.
 CAUSES DELAYED EXPANSION , IF
CONTAMINATED WITH MOISTURE DURING
MANIPULATION.
 BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON CORROSION &
MARGINAL INTEGRATION.
 PLATINUM:-
 HARDENS THE ALLOY & INCREASES THE RESISTANCE
TO CORROSION.

 PALLADIUM:-
 HARDENS THE ALLOY.
 WHITENS THE ALLOY.

 PRE AMALGAMATED ALLOYS:-

SMALL AMOUNT UPTO 3% OF Hg IS ADDED TO
THE ALLOY BY MANUFACTURER.
 RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF
D.AMALGAM
 Mercury free direct filling amalgam alloys
 Gallium based alloys
 Low mercury amalgams
 Indium in mercury
AMALGAMATION
 AMALGAMATION AND RESULTING
MICROSTRUCTURE.

 DURING TRITURATION Ag & Sn IN THE OUTER PORTION

OF THE PARTICLES DISSOLVE INTO Hg . Hg DIFFUSES
INTO ALLOY PARTICLES.
 Hg HAS LIMITED SOLUBILITY FOR Ag (.035WT%) & Sn
(.6wt%).
 AMALGAMATION OCCURS WHEN Hg CONTACTS THE
SURFACE OF Ag-Sn ALLOY PARTICLES.
 WHEN THE SOLUBILITY IN Hg EXEEDED- CRYSTALS OF 2
BINARY METTALIC COMPOUND PRECIPITATE INTO Hg.
THESE ARE BCC Ag2Hg3 & HEXAGONAL Sn7-8Hg.
 Low copper Alloys

 Ag3Sn+Hg > Ag2Hg3 + Sn8Hg + Ag3Sn

(r) (r1) (r2) (unreacted)
 High Copper Alloys
Admixed alloys
(1)
Ag3Sn + Ag-Cu +Hg>Ag2Hg3 + Sn8Hg +
Ag3Sn + AgCu

LATER,

Sn8Hg + AgCu > Cu6Sn5 + Ag2Hg3

(r2) (eutectic) (n) (r1)
 Single Composition

AgSnCu+ Hg > Cu6Sn5 + Ag2Hg3 +AgSnCu

 PROPERTIES OF SET AMALGAM.

 MICROLEAKAGE.
 DIMENSIONAL CHANGES.
 STRENGTH.
 CREEP.
 TARNISH & CORROSION.
 MICROLEAKAGE.
 OCCURS DUE TO PENETRATION OF
FLUIDS OR DEBRIS AROUND THE
MARGINS THAT CAN LEAD TO
SECONDARY CARIES. AMALGAM HAS GOT
A SELF SEALING PROPERTY –
CORROSION PRODUCT WILL FILL THE
TOOTH RESTORATION INTERFACE &
PREVENT MICROLEAKAGE.
 DIMENSIONAL CHANGES
CONTRACTION EXPANSION

ACCORDING TO ADA SPECIFICATION ,IT SHOULD

NOT EXPAD OR CONTRACT MORE THAN 20u\cm AT 37
degree celcious BETWEEN 5min AND 24hrs AFTER
BEGINNING OF TRITURATION.

MODERN AMALGAM ALWAYS SHOWS CONTRACTION.

OLDER AMALGAM SHOWS EXPANSION.

 CONTRACTION.
 RESULT IN MICROLEAKAGE & SECON –
DARY CARIES.
 FACTORS FAVOURING CONTRACTION
 LONGER TRITURATION TIME.
 HIGHER CONDENSATION PRESSURE.
 SMALL PARTICLE SIZE.
 Hg ALLOY RATIO.
 EXPANSION.
 IF A Zn CONTAINING LOW Cu \ HIGH Cu IS
CONTAMINATED DURING TRITURATION \
CONDENSATION ,A LARGE EXPANSION TAKE PLACE.IT
USUALLY STARTS FROM 3-5 DAYS AND CONTINUE FOR
MONTHS CREATING VALUES UPTO MORE THAN 400um
– DELAYED EXPANSION.
 H2O + Zn ZnO + H2
 PROTRUSION OF RESTORATION OUT OF CAVITY
 INCREASE CREEP
 INCREASE MICROLEAKAGE
 PITTED SURFACE OF RESTORATION & CORROSION.
 STRENGTH.

 AMALGAM IS SRONGEST IN COMPRE-

SSION & MUCH WEAKER IN TENSION &
SHEAR , THE PREPARD CAVITY DESIGN
SHOULD MAXIMIZE THE COMPRESSION
FORCES IN SERVICE & MINIMIZE
TENSION \ SHEAR FORCES.
 CREEP.

 DEFINED AS A TIME DEPENDENT PLASTIC

DEFORMATION UNDER CONSTANT STRESS.

 ACCORDING TO ADA SPECIFICATION NO 1

CREEP SHOULD BE BELOW 3%.

 CREEP OF LOW Cu AMALGAM IS 0.8-8% &

HIGH Cu IS 0.4-1%.
MANIPULATION
 MANIPULATION
(1) Selection of materials
(2) Mercury:Alloy ratio
(3) Trituration
(4) Mulling
(5) Condensation
(6) Shaping & finishing
 SELECTION OF MATERALS
a) ALLOY
b) MERCURY
c) DISPENSORS
d) PRE PROPOTION CAPSULE
 MERCURY: ALLOY RATIO
(1) Squeezing cloth

(2) Increased dryness technique

(1) EAMES technique

 TRITURATION
(1)Hand mixing

(2)Mechanical
 MULLING
 Improve homogenity of mass & get a
single consistent mix
 CONDENSATION
(1) Hand condensation
(2) Mech.condensation
SHAPING & FINISHING.

 CARVING.
 BURNISHING.
 POLISHING.
MERCURY TOXICITY.
 PRECAUTIONS
 Ventilation
 Disposal
 Sealed containers
 Vaccum cleaners
 INDICATIONS
(1) Moderate to Large Class I & Class II
Restorations
(2) Class V Restorations
(3) Temporary Caries Control Restorations
(4) Foundations
 CONTRAINDICATIONS
(1)Esthetics
(2)Extensive tooth destruction
(3)Small Class I & II Cavities
CAVITY PREPARATIONS
FOR
AMALGAM RESTORATION
 What is a Cavity Preparation?
It is a mechanical alteration of
a defective, injured, or diseased tooth to
receive a restorative material that re-
establishes a healthy state for the tooth,
including esthetics corrections where
indicated & normal form & function.
STEPS IN CAVITY PREPARATION

(1) Initial Cavity preparation

(2) Final Cavity Preparation

 Initial…
1. Outline form & initial depth
2. Primary Resistance form
3. Primary Retention form
4. Convenience form
 Final…
1. Removal of any remaining defective
Enamel or Dentin on Pulpal floor
2. Pulp protection
3. Finishing External Walls
4. Final Cleaning & Inspection
 CLASS I
They are restorations on
occlusal surfaces of premolars & molars,
occlusal 2/3rd of facial & lingual surface of
molars & lingual surface of maxillary
incisors
 CLASS II
They are reostorations on
the proximal surfaces of posterior teeth-
mesio occlusal , disto occlusal, mesio
occluso distal
 CLASS III
They are restorations on
the proximal surface of anterior teeth that
that do not involve incisal angle.
 CLASS V
They are restorations on
gingival 1/3rd of facial & lingual surface of
all teeth.
 CLASS VI
They are restorations on
incisal edge of anterior teeth or cusp tip
region of posterior teeth.
 FAILURES OF
AMALGAM
RESTORATIONS
 Signs of failures :
1. Fracture Lines
2. Marginal Ditching
3. Proximal Overhangs
4. Poor anatomic contours
5. Marginal Ridge incompatibility
6. Improper Proximal Contacts
7. Recurrent Caries
8. Poor occlusal Contacts
9. Amalgam Blues
 Reasons For Failures:
1. Improper Case Selection
2. Improper Cavity Preparation
3. Faulty Selection & manipulation of
Amalgam
4. Errors in Maricing Procedures
5. Post Operative Factors
 AMALGAM TATOO
“ Accidental implantation of silver
containing compounds into oral mucosal
tissue”
 Occur:
1. Removal of old amalgam
2. Broken Pieces-socket-tooth extraction
3. Particles entering surgical wound
4. Amalgam dust in oral fluids- abrasion areas
 Seen as – Grayish black pigmentation
 Com. Sites- Gingiva, buccal mucosa, alveolar
mucosa
 CONCLUSION
 Class I & II Restorations are still common
procedures performed by general Dentists.
 Class VI are used infrequently
 It is important for practitioners to understand
the indications, advantages, techniques &
limitations of these restorations.
 When used correctly & properly selected cases,
these restorations have the potential to serve for
many years
THANK YOU!!!!