Description

Dental Amalgam: Proven Durability and Strength for Posterior Restorations

Overview

Dental amalgam is a robust, time-tested restorative material that has been a cornerstone of dental practice for over 150 years. Comprising a stable blend of metals – primarily mercury (approximately 43-52%), silver, tin, and copper – it is renowned for its exceptional durability, strength, and longevity, particularly in high-stress, load-bearing areas of the mouth. Despite the advent of newer aesthetic materials, amalgam remains a reliable and cost-effective solution for many posterior restorative needs, especially where moisture control is challenging or economic considerations are paramount.

Our dental amalgam product adheres to the highest quality standards, ensuring consistent performance and optimal handling characteristics for dental professionals.

Key Features & Benefits

• Exceptional Durability: Withstands significant occlusal forces and wear over many years, making it ideal for posterior teeth.
• High Compressive Strength: Provides superior resistance to fracture, ensuring long-lasting restorations.
• Proven Longevity: Decades of clinical evidence demonstrate the enduring performance and low failure rates of amalgam restorations.
• Cost-Effective Solution: Offers an economical choice for patients and practices, especially for large posterior fillings.
• Excellent Wear Resistance: Maintains occlusal anatomy and prevents premature wear, preserving function.
• Self-Sealing Properties: Studies suggest that corrosion products forming at the tooth-amalgam interface help to reduce microleakage over time, enhancing marginal integrity.
• Ease of Use: Relatively straightforward placement technique, less sensitive to moisture contamination during insertion compared to resin composites.
• Adaptability: Can be used in areas where achieving perfect isolation is difficult.
• Available in Various Formulations: Choose from traditional lathe-cut, spherical, or admixed (blended) alloys to suit your preferred handling and carving characteristics.

Indications for Use

• Class I, II, and V restorations in posterior teeth.
• As a foundation or core build-up material for crowns.
• Retrograde root canal fillings (apicoectomy).
• For restorations in patients with high caries risk where moisture control is a challenge.

Contraindications

• Anterior teeth or any area where aesthetics are a primary concern.
• Patients with a confirmed allergy to mercury or any other amalgam component.
• Small, shallow preparations where adhesive tooth-colored materials may be more conservative.
• When a significant portion of remaining tooth structure is compromised, requiring greater bond strength (e.g., with composite resins).

Available Forms & Packaging

Our dental amalgam is primarily supplied in pre-dosed, hermetically sealed capsules for maximum convenience, consistent trituration, and reduced mercury vapor exposure.

• Pre-dosed Capsules:
  • Sizes: Available in single, double, and triple triturate doses to accommodate varying restoration sizes.
  • Alloy Types:
    • Spherical: Offers rapid setting, high early strength, and smooth carving. Ideal for small, intricate preparations.
    • Lathe-Cut: Provides a firmer, packable consistency, excellent for contouring and contact points.
    • Admixed (Blended): Combines the benefits of both spherical and lathe-cut particles for a balanced handling experience.
  • Packaging: Typically sold in boxes containing 50, 100, or 500 capsules.

Technical Specifications (Typical for High-Copper Amalgam)

• Composition (Approximate):
  • Mercury: 43-52%
  • Silver: 20-35%
  • Tin: 10-25%
  • Copper: 6-30% (High-Copper content minimizes gamma-2 phase, enhancing strength and corrosion resistance)
• Setting Time:
  • Initial Set: 3-5 minutes (Varies by formulation and trituration time)
  • Final Set: 24 hours
• Compressive Strength (24 hours): >300 MPa (often exceeding 400 MPa)
• Particle Type: Lathe-cut, Spherical, or Admixed
• Expansion/Contraction: Minimal, ensuring good marginal adaptation.

Instructions for Use (General Guidelines)

1. Trituration: Activate and triturate the pre-dosed capsule in a dental amalgamator according to the manufacturer's instructions for the specified time and speed.
2. Dispensing: Immediately open the capsule and transfer the mixed amalgam into an amalgam carrier.
3. Placement & Condensation: Place the amalgam into the prepared cavity incrementally, condensing firmly with appropriate instruments to eliminate voids and adapt the material to the cavity walls.
4. Carving: Carve the amalgam to restore anatomical form and occlusal harmony before it reaches its final set.
5. Finishing & Polishing: For optimal longevity and surface smoothness, finish and polish the restoration at a subsequent appointment (typically 24 hours after placement).

Storage & Shelf Life

• Store capsules in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Keep capsules in their original packaging until ready for use.
• Refer to the expiry date printed on the packaging for shelf life information.

Safety & Handling Precautions (Crucial for Mercury-Containing Products)

• Ventilation: Use amalgam in well-ventilated operatory rooms.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always wear gloves, masks, and protective eyewear during handling and placement.
• No-Touch Technique: Utilize the encapsulated delivery system and amalgam carriers to minimize direct contact with mercury-containing material.
• Waste Management:
  • Use amalgam separators in all dental unit vacuum lines to capture waste amalgam.
  • Collect and store scrap amalgam in covered, unbreakable containers filled with fixer solution or water, clearly labeled, and designated for recycling by an approved hazardous waste recycler.
  • Never dispose of amalgam waste in regular trash, biohazard bags, or down the drain.
• Spill Kits: Have mercury spill kits readily available in the clinic.
• Training: Ensure all dental staff are thoroughly trained in safe amalgam handling, mercury hygiene, and emergency procedures.
• Minamata Convention: Be aware of national and international regulations regarding mercury and dental amalgam, including the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Regulatory Compliance

Our dental amalgam product meets stringent quality and safety standards, complying with:

• ISO 1559: Dentistry – Encapsulated Amalgam
• ADA Specification No. 1: Dental Amalgam Alloys
• Relevant national regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA cleared in the USA, CE marked in Europe).

Ordering Information

• Product Codes: (Please refer to our catalog or contact your sales representative for specific product codes based on alloy type, capsule size, and packaging quantity).
• Packaging: Boxes of 50, 100, or 500 capsules.
• Available Types: Spherical, Lathe-cut, Admixed.

Disclaimer: This product is intended for professional dental use only. Practitioners should be fully knowledgeable in the proper handling, application, and safety procedures for dental amalgam. Always refer to the specific instructions for use provided with the product by the manufacturer.