Penetrating corrosion

Seen in gamma-2 phase (Sn-Hg).

This phase produces crystals which are
long and blade like penetrating
throughout the matrix.
A penetrating matrix is formed because
of intercrystalline contacts between
the blades.
This phase is prone to corossion in
clinical restorations.

Begins from the outside of the restoration along the crystals

Connecting to new crystals at intercrystalline contacts

This produces penetration corossion.

Generates a porous and spongy amalgam with minimal

mechanical resistance.

This can be decreased by the use of more copper in the initial

composition.

Mercuroscopic expansion
First proposed by Jorgensen as an explanation for
prevalence of marginal fracture associated with occlusal
amalgam.
Electrochemical corrosion causes extrusion of restoration at
the margins

During this phase mercury from Sn-Hg reacts with the Ag-Sn
particles and produces further expansion

Mercuroscopic expansion

Mahlers scale
Established from No.1 11.
Image of clinical restoration of interest is compared
with a series of 5 photographs.
No. 2,4,6,8 and 10
Represent increasingly
worse marginal breakdown.
Rest all deal with severity of marginal ditching:
No. 1- Below the main scale images
No. 3,5,7 and 9 Intermediate
No. 10 Greater

Failures
Bulk fractures

Corrosion

Sensitivity or pain
5

 Secondary caries

Marginal fractures

Signs of failures
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Fracture Lines
Marginal Ditching
Proximal Overhangs
Poor anatomic contours
Marginal Ridge incompatibility
Improper Proximal Contacts
Recurrent Caries
Poor occlusal Contacts
Amalgam Blues
7

Reasons For Failures

1. Improper Case Selection
2. Improper Cavity Preparation
3. Faulty Selection & manipulation of
amalgam
4. Errors in Matricing Procedures
5. Post Operative Factors

RECENT DEVELOPMENTs OF Dental

AMALGAM
Low mercury amalgam
Indium in amalgam

Low mercury amalgam

In this approach the alloy particles

are carefully selected so that they
can pack together well.
It is then possible to reduce
mercury content to 15%-25%.
Clinical properties are yet unknown.

Structure and strength of low-mercury dental amalgams prepared with liquid Hg47.4% In
alloy

Two low-mercury amalgams: (1) low-copper lathe-cut and (2) highcopper (Tytin) were prepared by amalgamation with liquid Hg47.4%
In alloy
The matrix phase of the low-mercury amalgam was found to be
depleted of mercury, indicating that less mercury (compared with
standard amalgam) combines with silver, thus producing a strong
amalgam matrix. On the other hand, an increase was observed in the
consumption of the initial (Ag3Sn)-phase, leading to an increase of
the tin released. As a result, the potential of [HgSn]-phase formation
in low-mercury amalgams increases which contributes to a
deterioration in the strength of the investigated amalgam.
The conclusion drawn was that low-mercury amalgam may be
prepared with liquid Hg47.4%In alloy but, in order to eliminate 2phase formation, novel and possibly tin-free amalgamable alloys
should be developed

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 19980610,Volume 9,Issue 6,pp 347-354

Indium in amalgam
Effect of indium on the clinical success
of amalgam restorations
There were no differences
clinically or statistically regarding
texture and luster and the
margins of the restorations
containingindiumincurred
slightly less fracture than the
non-indium-containing restorations.
Uk pubmed central

Clinical evaluation of high-copper dental

amalgams with and without indium
The margins of the indium-containing
amalgam restorations incurred slightly less
marginal breakdown, an effect that could be
attributed to the addition of admixed indium
and to the increase in silver-copper eutectic
spheres which is found in these alloys.
These amalgams also demonstrated a
slightly darker appearance, and were slightly
rougher than the non-indium-containing
amalgam.
Am J Dent.1992 Feb;5(1):39-41.

Effect of Admixed Indium on Mercury

Vapor Release from Dental Amalgam
Admixed indium significantly
decreased the amount of mercury
vapor released from dental amalgams.
Dental amalgams with greater than or
equal to 8% admixed indium released
the least amount of mercury vapor.

Jada, October, 2012