Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. It has been used for more than 150 years in hundreds of millions of patients. y Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. y Dental amalgam fillings are also known as silver fillings because of their silver-like appearance.
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A. Low Copper Amalgam 69.4% Ag, 26.2% SN, 3.6% CU, 0.8% Zn (Conventional)

High Copper Amalgam - 60% AG, 27% SN, 13% CU, 0% ZN

*** Due to their higher cooper content, Display significantly better corrosion resistance than low copper dental amalgam.

-Traditional dental amalgam- was mixed initialy by proportioning alloy and mercury components into a mortar and pestle. -Trituration- manual mixing of dental amalgam -Conventional amalgam- Fillings were produced in finer sizes, produces special mixtures and enchance final properties. -Fames technique-promoted the low mercury to alloy particles through wringing the mass in squeeze cloth.

Characteristic of amalgam
Low tensile strengths 2. Brittle in material 3. Capable of clinically significant plastic deformation (creep) Amalgam Creep- Plastic deformation due to very slow metallurgical phase transformations that involved diffusion- controlled reactions and produce volume increase. Marginal Fractures- Most common evidence of degradation of low cooper dental amalgams. Ditch- Produce by local fractures during opponent tooth contact that creates occlusal stress.
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Sources of Mercury Exposures:

Dental amalgam raw materials being stored for use Mixed unhardened dental amalgam during trituration insertion and intraoral setting. Dental amalgam scrap that has insufficient alloy. Denatl amalgam undergoing finishing and polishing operations. Dental amalgam restorations being removed.

Failures:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Bulk fractures Corrosion and excessive marginal fractures Sensitivity or pain Secondary caries Fracture of structures

Potential benefits
Dental amalgam fillings are strong and long-lasting, so they are less likely to break than some other types of fillings. y Dental amalgam is the least expensive type of filling material.
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Dental Amalgam Related Innovation

Silverfil Argentum
is the world's first and only pure silver filling with no excess mercury. A revolutionary material, Silverfil Argentum works just like any other dental filling, employing the same usage and handling techniques, but minus the problems of excess mercury within the fillings. Unlike conventional dental amalgams, Silverfil Argentum consists of only silver particles and a partially amalgamated silver-mercury compound. It contains no tin or copper. The highly reactive powder of Silverfil Argentum completely absorbs all of the mercury used for amalgamation, leaving no traces of any excess mercury behind in the fillings (tested at City University, London and University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur).

No Excess Mercury
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Tests have proven that Silverfil Argentum fillings do not have any excess mercury, so you no longer have to worry about free mercury in your fillings. Tests also revealed small amounts of free silver within Silverfil Argentum fillings, which further infers that there is no excess mercury at all.

No Special Storage Required

Conventional Silver-Tin-Copper amalgams waste are to be stored in a sulphite solution as recommended by some dental associations. The sulphite chemically reacts with the excess mercury to prevent its vaporisation. Silverfil Argentum waste does not require any special storage as there is no excess mercury.

No Environmental Contamination
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Tests have proven that Silverfil Argentum is similar to a mineral in nature called Moschellandsbergite, which is found in the district of Landsberg in Germany. This infers that Silverfil Argentum fillings are very stable and are also environmentally friendly since it is similar to a naturally occurring mineral.

No Water Contamination
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Collection of dental amalgam waste from dental spittoons has become an urgent priority due to possible water contamination.With Silverfil Argentum, contamination of the water system is not an issue as Silverfil Argentum waste contains no excess mercury that can leach out into the water.

No Amalgam Waste Disposal Problems

Many countries have now started classifying conventional dental amalgam waste as 'hazardous waste'. Silverfil Argentum waste, however, being similar to a mineral in nature, is not hazardous to the environment and can be disposed of with relative ease (according to national regulations).

No Biocompatibility Issues
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Silverfil Argentum has been tested for biocompatibility according to ISO 109931 and has proven to have no irritation, sensitization, cytotoxicity, and most importantly, no genotoxicity (which is currently a point of concern in conventional dental amalgams).

Silverfil Argentum is Easy to Use

Self-activating capsules allow fast and easy use of Silverfil Argentum. Twist-open capsules make it easy to open after mixing - no tools required. Pouched mercury provides a consistent mix and added hygiene. Colour Coded Capsules make it easy to differentiate at a glance (1 spill: Blue, 2 spill: Green, 3 spill: Yellow)

Shorter Mixing Times

Silverfil Argentum capsules require a very short mixing time compared to conventional dental amalgams. This is due to Silverfil Argentum's high coefficient of diffusion with mercury, causing rapid absorption of the mercury during trituration. While Silverfil Argentum can be used with any amalgamator, mixing times may vary according to different amalgamators depending on the vibration speed.

For High Speed Amalgamators

Silverfil Argentum 1 spill : 3 seconds Silverfil Argentum 2 spill : 3 - 4 seconds Silverfil Argentum 3 spill : 4 - 5 seconds

Mixing Times using Low Speed

Silverfil Argentum 1 spill : 4 - 5 seconds Silverfil Argentum 2 spill : 5 - 7 seconds Silverfil Argentum 3 spill : 7 - 8 seconds