Failure of amalgam

restoration
 :
1. Marginal and surface degradation.
2. Isthmus fracture .
3. Recurrent caries.
4. Gingival or periodontal inflammation.
5. Hypersensitive .
6. Tooth discoloration.
7. Tooth fracture .
 1-Marginal degradation:
It refers to breakage of a thin edge of a restoration creating an
irregular v shaped marginal crevice .

Causes:
a) Depletion of support: as a result of excessive expansion
creep or crevicular corrosion.
b) Insufficient bulk or thickness
c) Voids
d) Excess mercury
 2 -Isthmus fracture :
Isthmus is the narrowest junction between the principle portion
and the auxiliary portion.
Cause:
A ) Factors that increase flexure stresses:
• Incorrect resistance and inadequate retention.
• Excessive occlusal forces.
• Surface and structural discontinuities.

B) Factors that lower the flexure strength:

• Insufficient bulk of the amalgam.
• Excess mercury.
• Structural discontinuities.
 3-Tooth fracture:
• Definition: fractured cusp or ridge under functional forces due
to lack of support and reinforcement.
 4-Recurrent caries:
• Definition: caries developed in a previously restored tooth.
 5.Excessive discoloration

Causes:
• Tarnish: Surface discoloration of amalgam with loss of its luster.

• Clinical picture: Loss of surface luster.

• Corrosion: Actual disintegration of the bulk of amalgam.

• Clinical picture: Rough pitted amalgam surface

Amalgam blues: The amalgam shown through enamel.

• Clinical picture: dark bluish discoloration.

 6.Post – restoration hypersensitivity

Causes:
• Hypersensitivity in a recently amalgam restored tooth-may be
generated by stimulation of freshly exposed permeable virgin n
dentin surface by:
1. Galvanic: Stimuli generated on immediate contact with opposing dissimilar
metals.

2. Thermal: Thermal stresses conducted through large non-isolated metallic

restorations.

3. Chemical and osmotic: Stimuli

4. Tactile: Pressure of premature contact.
7.Gingival and periodontal affections
 8.Dislodgment of restoration

• Causes:

• Clinical Picture

• Treatment
 Criteria for replacement of amalgam restoration :
• Extensive marginal degradation .

• Isthmus fracture .

• Recurrent caries .

• Tooth fracture .

• Porous surface .

• Improper contact and contour .

• Overhanging margins .
FAILURE OF CAST RESTORATIONS
 1.Recurrent caries

Causes:

• Fitting discrepancies:

• Poor cement or cementation:

• Under extension of cavity outline:

• Stagnation of bacterial plaque:

 2.Dislodgment of restoration
Causes:

• Recurrent caries.

• Poor cementation.

• Excessive torque by occlusal interference.

• Breaking of the cement.