The biting force acting in the premolar and molar region in the oral cavity ranges from 222 to 890 N.

In a sound tooth structure enamel easily sustains such large forces however when a person needs to have a restoration in the posterior teeth the primary requirement is high compressive strength.

Amalgam is one such material which gained a lot of popularity because the strengths were adequate for normal situations within the oral cavity.

However being viscoelastic in nature when an amalgam restoration is subjected to large dynamic masticatory forces it results in creep or “flow” of the restoration on the occlusal surface forming thin sections.

Hence two important properties that are to be kept in mind while selecting an amalgam alloy for a posterior restoration are--

Prateek Mathur

Strength :Strength :Amalgam is weaker in tension

than in compression and is a brittle material and may sometimes require reinforcement with pins embedded in the dentin(pin retained amalgam restoration).

The min. required compressive strength is 310 Mpa.

Typical values:Typical values:

Type of amalgam alloy

Compressive (1hr)

Strength (7 days)

Tensile strength

Low copper amalgam

145 300 60

High copper admix

137 430 48

High copper unicompositional

262 500 62

All values in MPa

Tensile strength of amalgam is very low irrespective of its composition.◦ A compressive stress on an adjacent

restored cusp introduces complex stresses that result in tensile stresses in the isthmus region.

◦ 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.

Factors affecting Factors affecting Strength :Strength :

Measurement of Measurement of strength:strength:Usually a cylindrical sample of

height 8mm and diameter 4 mm is prepared keeping the variable parameters constant and preserved at 37 degrees for 7 days.

These are tested by universal testing machines at definite strain rates. Being viscoelastic its properties like strength and modulus of elasticity depend on stressing or straining rates.

8mm

4mm

Instron universal testing machine

Repair strength of dental amalgams.Shen C, Speigel J, Mjör IA.(Department of Dental Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, Health Science Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0446, USA.

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that newly triturated amalgam condensed vertically on old amalgam was essential for establishing a bond between the new and old amalgams.

The study showed that amalgams repaired with a different amalgam yielded higher strength values than those repaired with the original amalgam, and the baseline specimens exhibited significantly higher strength values than all the repaired specimens.

Creep:Creep:DEFINED AS A TIME DEPENDENT PLASTIC

DEFORMATION UNDER CONSTANT STRESS OCCURING IN CRYSTALLINE MATERIALS.

ACCORDING TO ADA SPECIFICATION NO 1

CREEP SHOULD BE BELOW 3%.

CREEP OF LOW Cu AMALGAM IS 0.8-8% & HIGH Cu IS <0.1%.

Influence of microstructure Influence of microstructure on creep: on creep:

Manipulative variables:Manipulative variables:

Clinical significance:Clinical significance:Creep causes the amalgam to flow

such that the unsupported amalgam protrudes out from margins of the cavity.

Those unsupported edges are weak and may further weaken by corrosion.

This causes the formation of a ditch around the margins of amalgam restoration.

Creep values at different magnitudes of applied dynamic stresses

Creep values for different amalgam types at a fixed dynamic stress

Amalgam creep tester:Amalgam creep tester:

Amalgam creep tester has been designed to test creep of dental amalgam materials as per ADA specification no. 1.

Instrument has been built in a solid aluminum block containing two amalgam specimens test stations where the temperature of 37 degrees Celsius is precisely controlled with a digital microprocessor controller and a designated creep test weight is applied onto the specimens.

The creep of the specimen is detected by the 2-LVDT transducers which are connected to the two pen strip chart recorder for the creep test evaluation and analysis.

Thank Thank you…you…