DIRECT FILLING

GOLD
CONTENTS
 Introduction
 General Considerations
 Classification
 Types of Direct Filling Gold
1) Gold Foil
2) Electrolytic precipitate
3) Powdered Gold
 Manipulation
 Removal of Surface Impurities -Annealing
 Condensation or Compaction
 Indications
 Contra Indications
 Cavity Designs
 Metallurgical Consideration
 Mechanical Considerations

Biological Consideration.
 Sealability of Direct Gold Restoration
 Newer Introductions
 Decline in Direct Gold Restorations
 Conclusion
 References
INTRODUCTION
 Since antiquity, pure gold has been a metal of special
intrinsic and practical value

 From the dawn of civilization until the present time,

man has utilized gold in some form or other in practice
of dentistry

 Gold has fallen in popularity considerably from its

high, but it is experiencing a resurgence of moderate
proportions in North America, Sweden and Germany
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
 Purity- of 99.99% can be obtained

 It is noblest of all metals, inactive chemically, is not

affected by air, heat, moisture or most solvents; so
rarely tarnishes or corrodes

 Malleability- Most malleable of all metals

 Ductility- Most ductile of all metals. One grain pure
gold may be drawn into wire nearly 300 feet long

 Brinell hardness of pure gold is about 25

 Pure gold is extremely soft but after cold working its

hardness reaches 52-75 HV.

 True density -19.3g/cm3.

Purity of gold - Carat, fineness
 Carat is 1/24 part by weight of the total mass of gold

 Pure gold is therefore 24 carats

 An alloy that is 75% gold is 18 carats

 Fineness is expressed in terms of parts per thousand

CLASSIFICATION
ACCORDING TO PHILLIP’S SCIENCE OF DENTAL
MATERIALS
I. Foil (fibrous gold)
A. Sheet
i. Cohesive
ii. Non cohesive
B. Ropes
C. Cylinders
D. Laminated foil
E. Platinized foil
II. Electrolytic precipitate
A. Mat gold
B. Mat foil (Mat gold +Mat foil)
C. Gold- calcium alloy
III. Powdered gold (encapsulated gold powder)
According to W. J. O’ Brien
I. Foil
A. Platinized gold foil
B. Mat foil
II. Electrolytic
C. Mat gold
D. Calcium alloy
III. Powdered
 Types of direct filling gold

Gold foil Mat gold Powdered

gold

E-Z gold
Gold foil

 Oldest among all the forms described

 Standard No.4 gold foil is supplied in 4 x 4 inch(100 x

100 mm) sheets that weigh 4 grains (0.259g) and are
about 0.51μm thick.

 The numbering system refers to the weight of a standard

sheet and reflects the thickness.

 Thus, No. 3 foil weighs 3grains (0.194 g) and is about

0.38μm thick.

 Other available sizes are No.20, 40, 60, 90 etc

Forms of gold foil

Plain gold foil: a product of the cold working

procedure without any modifications
 Advantages- ease of manipulation & workability
 Disadvantages- requires time for manipulation
because of its softness & lack of mass

Corrugated gold foil:  manufactured by placing a

thin leaf of paper between two sheets of gold foil and
after which the whole unit is ignited
 As the paper leaves are burnt out, they shrivel and
impart a corrugated shape to the gold foil
 It is more cohesive than plain ones
 It is the outcome of great Chicago Fire of 1871
Platinum gold foil:  Produced by sandwiching
platinum foil between two leaves of gold foil; platinum
increases the hardness of the finished restoration
 Platinum being 15% by weight
 in areas of excessive stress such as the incisal edge of
anterior teeth and cusp tips
 Crown repairs

Disadvantages
 Difficult to finish & polish
Formed in 2 ways-:
 One sheet of platinum foil in between two No.4 gold
foils.
 Layers of platinum & gold rolled over each other
Laminated gold foil:  Made by combining two or
three leaves of gold, each from different ingots which
have been cold worked in different directions

 resistant in different directions when combined

together

 Has directional properties, i.e. resistant to stresses in

one direction better than the other

 Are not available as preforms but may be made by the

dentist by placing number of sheets on top of each
other, then cutting the laminate into pieces of desired
size
Types of preformed foils- Sheets
Sheets- cohesive and noncohesive
 0nly the sheet foil is furnished in both forms.

Cohesive Gold
 It is gold foil which is free of surface contaminants
 Gases like oxygen are absorbed at the surface of the
gold, thus prevents bonding of gold during
compaction
 Only if gold surface is free from impurities it can be
welded at room temperature

Non - Cohesive Gold

 Ammonia treated foil is called Non - Cohesive gold
 Intentional coating : Is treating of gold with 18 % of
ammonia

 This acts as a protective film to prevent adsorption of

non-volatile gases and premature cohesion of pellets in
their container

 This volatile film is readily removed by heating at

350oC thereby restoring the cohesive character of the
foil

 Uses: to build up the bulk of a direct gold restoration

Preformed foils – Ropes, Cylinders, Laminated and Pellets

Because the 4 x 4 inch sheets of foils are too large to use in

restorative procedures, they are rolled into ropes, cylinders or
pellets before insertion into cavity preparations

Although some practitioners have historically made their

own ropes, cylinders and laminates, now ropes and cylinders
are available in preformed shapes

Both are made from No.4 foil that has been “carbonized” or
“corrugated”
Gold foil cylinder

 Produced by rolling cut segments of No. 4 foils into a

desired width, usually 3.2mm, 4.8mm and 6.4mm
using a modified No. 22 tapestry needle

 Are more cohesive & are formed by wrapping a

loosely formed rope with an extra sheet of gold foil
-best suited for class I & V restorations.
Gold foil pellets

 Pellets of gold foil are generally rolled from 1/32, 1/64

or 1/128 sections cut from no. 4 sheet foil

 The book of foil is marked and cut into squares or

rectangles

 Each piece is placed on clean finger tips, and the

corners are tucked into the center; then it is lightly
rolled into pellet form
4 x 4’’ foil

Gold pellet
Electrolytic precipitated gold

 Consists of crystalline gold powder formed by

electrolytic precipitation

 The powder is formed into shapes by sintering

 Sintering causes self diffusion between particles where

they are in contact, so the crystals actually grow
together

 This process takes place at temperature much below

the melting point of gold
Types of electrolytic precipitated gold

A. Mat gold : It is a crystalline, electrolytically

precipitated gold form that is formed into strips

B. Mat Foil : It is manufactured by sandwiching a ribbon

of mat gold between two regular cohesive gold sheets

C. Gold - Calcium alloy (Alloyed Electrolytic

Precipitate):
 Newest form, Electralloy R V is alloyed with calcium
 MAT GOLD
 is crystalline, electrolytically precipitated gold formed
into strips

 commonly available as either medium (2mm) or wide

(3mm) widths & 15 mm length strips

 Advantages:
i) preferred for its ease in building up the internal bulk of
the restoration because it can be more easily compacted
into, and adapted to, the retentive portions of the prepared
cavity
ii) Rapid filling property
 Disadvantages:

i) its large surface area does not permit easy welding into
a solid mass as gold foil

ii) greater tendency for voids that may show up as pits if

it is used on the surface of the restoration

 However, foil is generally recommended for the

external surface of the restoration. In other words, the
mat is covered with a veneer of foil
MAT FOIL
 Mat foil is a sandwich of electrolytic precipitated gold
powder between sheets of No.3 gold foil
 The sandwich is sintered and cut into strips of differing
widths. The dentist can cut these to the desired length
 Purpose of sandwiching mat was to eliminate the need
to veneer the restoration with a layer of foil

 Advantages:
i) Combined adaptability of mat gold with surface
density of gold foil, so was effective throughout the
restoration
C) ALLOYED ELECTROLYTIC PRECIPITATE
 The newest form of electrolytic precipitate is alloyed
with calcium. It is called Electralloy R.V

 Calcium content of the finished product is about 0.1%

 Purpose is to produce stronger restorations by

dispersion strengthening. This locks in cold work
strengthening

 It is available in strips and cut to desired length before

insertion into a cavity preparation
 Advantages:
i) Easy to manipulate
ii) Higher density so fills the preparation faster

Disadvantages:
i) Can cause bridging if improperly stepped
ii) May create overcontouring during condensation
POWDERED GOLD/ SPONGY GOLD
 “Goldent” is powdered gold made by a combination of
chemical precipitation and atomization

 Particle size range is 1 to 4 micro m

 The atomized and chemically precipitated powders are first

mixed with a soft wax in order to form pellets
 These are wrapped in No.2 ½ or No. 3 foil. The
resulting pellets are cylindrical in shape and are
available in several diameters and lengths

 contain approximately 10 times more gold than a pellet

of gold foil of comparable size
 Prior to its condensation the matrix is burned away
leaving only pure gold to be packed in to the cavity

 Advantages:
Upon condensation spreads laterally from its point
of impact; important for early stages of condensation

Overlaying with gold foil is recommended

 Powdered gold microstructure

Powder consist of spherical particles of 1.5mm in

diameter.
E-Z GOLD

E-Z Gold is a recent product similar to the

older Goldent consists of small particles
blended with organic (annealing) indicator
compressed into small cylinders, cut into
various sizes of sphere wrapped in gold foil .

It was produced by Williams Gold refining Co.

New York.

It has improved working properties.

MANIPULATION OF DFG

 It consists of two stages, i.e.

1. Annealing / Heat treatment / Degassing.

 2. Condensation / Compaction.
ANNEALING / DEGASSING / DECONTAMINATING / HEAT
TREATMENT / DESORBING -:

 Desorption is heating long enough at a temperature

that will remove gases and in case of powder gold,
burn away the wax (6000F-13000F)

 Objectives
- to drive out impurities of the surface, thus making the
surface ready for cohesion

-to keep this surface devoid of any other impurities until

complete cohesion occurs during building of the
restoration
Application of thermal energy introduces molecular
motion in the contaminants, vaporizing them off the
surface
Recrystallization stress relief also may occur with this
process
In an attempt to determine the optimal temperature for
removal of surface impurities, specimens were
uniformly compacted from gold foil that had been
heated for 5mts at various temperatures.

Data indicated that temperature below 315OC (600OF)

are not adequate to attain optimal hardness of the
compacted gold.
The values were not significantly different in the
temperature range between 315OC (600OF) and 760OC
(1400OF).

Reversible gases (oxygen and ammonia) can be

readily removed by heat in the range of 900OF to
1300OF
DESORPTION CAN BE DONE BY

1.Piece method- a single piece is annealed at a time usually

done by the dental assistant.

2.Bulk method- is degassing of several gold pellets at the

same time.

Advantages:
Convenient & takes lesser time as a whole.
Disadvantages:
Accidental movement during heating can cause
sticking of the pellets to each other.

Air currents may cause unequal heating thus poor

welding properties.

Wastage of unused gold.

 METHODS OF DEGASSING

By an open alcohol flame :

Consists of picking up each piece individually, heating it

directly in the open flame and placing it in prepared cavity.

Fuel may be alcohol or gas, but acetone free alcohol is

preferred, as there is less chance of contamination.
Alcohol should be pure methanol/ethanol without any
additives or colorants.

Only the middle zone of the flame or the high energy

reducing zone (Blue Zone) should be used.

Each piece is held for three to five seconds before

insertion with a gold foil carrier (irridioplatinum wire)
 Oxidizing zone

Reducing zone
Combustion zone

Zones of a flame
 PRECAUTIONS-:

1.Lamp should be free of waxes and surface contaminants.

2.Wick should be trimmed to produce – teardrop shaped
clear light blue flame of ¾ inch in height.
3.Sulfur from the matchsticks should not adhere to the wick.

Advantages:
1 Selection of pieces of appropriate size.
2.Desorption of only those pieces which are to be used.
3. Less exposure to contamination.
4.Uniformity,flexibility & immediate availability of gold.
PELLET OF GOLD FOIL IS DEGASSED IN PURE
ETHANOL FLAME

E-Z gold pellet must be heated1/2 to 1 inch above the ethanol

flame until a bright flame occurs caused by ignition of the wax
and the pellet becomes dull red for 2-3 sec, then it is
immediately withdrawn.
2. Mica over a flame

A sheet of mica can be used over any type of flame, and

is used somewhat as a heating element.

Surface of the mica is divided into several areas to

indicate the time the pieces of gold were put on the mica.
Maximally, five minutes are allowed for any piece of
gold to be heated on mica.

Care should be taken not to handle pieces with

stainless steel wire points or similar instruments that
will contaminate gold.

Disadvantages: convenient for gold foil but not for

other forms.
 MICA TRAY MOUNTED OVER
ALCOHOL
3. Electric Degassing

 Most controlled and standardized way of

decontaminating gold materials.

 Heating compartment is made of aluminum.

 The surface of the heater is divided into small

compartments, each accommodating a piece of direct
gold.
 Maximally, five minutes are allowed for any piece to
be kept in the electric decontaminator at 8000F

 Advantages: 1. Electric heater controls the time and the

temperature
2. Allows the operator to work alone
 Disadvantages:
8000F may not be high enough for powdered gold
which require a temperature of 9000F-12000F
ELECTRIC ANNEALER
Hazards from overheating

1.Possibility of recrystallization and grain growth  drop

of mechanical properties of the material substantially.
Thus minimal time and temperature should be used.

2. Incorporation of impurities from the surrounding

atmosphere. So, degassing the gold in a polluted
atmosphere is avoided.
3.Over sintered situation instead of only surface atoms
adhering to each other, the whole mass of particles will
adhere each other. So interferes with plasticity of the
material when it is inserted into the cavity preparation

4.Complete melting of the surface of the gold making it

non –cohesive

5. Pieces may adhere before insertion in the preparation

especially if they are on mica without being
sufficiently spaced from each other, and may lead to
larger pieces which are difficult to condense properly
Hazards from underheating

 Does not adequately remove the impurities, the

resulting in incomplete cohesion due to remaining
impurities, or due to carbon deposited by the flame.

 This partial cohesiveness will create pitting and

porosity within the final restoration.

 Overall inferior properties of the restoration.

2. CONDENSATION / COMPACTION

 Condensation is the procedure used to harden the gold

inside the preparation.

A) Objectives:-
i) Wedge initial pieces between dentinal walls, especially
at starting points & build the restoration over them.

ii) Weld the gold pieces together by complete cohesion of

their space lattices.
iii) Strain hardening of gold materials which is due to the
cold working during condensation.

vi) To adapt gold materials in to the cavity walls and

floors.

v) Elastically deform them into the dentin of cavity walls

and floors.

vi) To gain a uniform compactness by eliminating voids

between the gold pieces.

vii) To develop strength within the restoration.

B) Modes of Condensation:
 Hand instrument condensation
 Hand condensation and Mallet
 Pneumatic condensation
 Electronic condensation

C) Gold Condensers:
They are provided in different shapes
 Round condensers
 Parallelogram condensers
 Foot condensers
B. MODES OF CONDENSATION

i. Hand Instrument Condensation :

Can be used only as a first step in a two - step
condensation process as the condensation energy
produced by this method is not sufficient to fill the
cavity

ii. Hand condenser and mallet :

Oldest method of condensation
iii. Pneumatic Condensation :
Involves the use of vibrating condensers which work
by using compressed air
Though this is a efficient method, but can not be
controllable

iv. Electronic condensation :

It is the most efficient and controlled way of
condensation
Intensity from 2oz to 15lb and frequency-360-3600
cycles/min
 C. GOLD CONDENSERS

Can be –
a) used with a handpiece- Electro mallet, pneumatic mallet.
- have a shank 1 inch in length & a working tip or face.
b) used with hand mallet- 6’’ in length

i. Round condensers (Bayonet condenser): Used in initial

restoration phase and to establish `ties‘ in the inner parts
of the restoration.
- 0.4-0.55mm in diameter.
ii. Varney Foot Condensers : Used mainly for
cavosurface condensation, surface hardening of the
restoration and for bulk build-up
-face-1-1.3mm

iii. Parallelogram and Hatchet Condensers: Used for

preliminary condensation and to create the bulk of
restoration
-face -0.5-1mm
Round Rectangular Foot condenser
MALLET & CONDENSERS
HAND MALLET AND
CONDENSERS
D. PROCEDURE / PRINCIPLES OF
CONDENSATION

 After pellet placement in the tooth, it is compacted to

develop hardness and to produce adaptation of the
material to the cavity wall.

 When the gold is condensed slip planes develop

between the anatomic structure and restoration and the
resultant stress produces the hardness.
 Thorough condensation results in a dense, non porous
gold restoration.

 Regardless of the type of condensation employed the

force should be at least 15 lb /sq. inch.
POSITIONING OF THE GOLD PELLET ALONG
THE WALLS

Correct Incorrect incomplete

condensation
1. LINE OF FORCE / ANGLE OF FORCE

 It is the direction of force exerted by the condenser.

 It is parallel to an extension of the long axis of the

shaft of the instrument regardless of the deflection or
angle of the working point.
 According to Black, the line of force must be directed
at an angle of 45o to cavity walls and floors i.e should
bisect line angles and trisect point angles formed by
the cavity walls.

 Forces of condensation must be directed at 90o to

previously condensed gold to avoid shear components
which can displace or loosen the already condensed
pieces of gold.

 Minimal thickness of pellet should be used.

SAME LINE OF FORCE REGARDLESS OF THE
ANGULATION OF THE SHAFT.
PRINCIPLES OF
CONDENSATION
2. BRIDGING

 When an improper building shelf is produced a

bridging occurs, i.e. the gold bulges and produces a
convexity in the material, preventing the condenser
from reaching the cavity wall, causing porosity.

 Prevents the proper lines of force from being applied

and thus resulting in poor adaptation.
 Can be prevented by uniform placement of the material
and adequate condensation using the proper lines of
force.

 Most important rule is to keep the gold banked against

the walls until the cavosurface margin is reached thus
creating a concavity
BRIDGING
3. STEPPING OF THE CONDENSER

 Refers to the overlapping (by one fourth of its

diameter) of the previous area of the condenser's stroke
both in individual steps and in lines of steps

 Stepping can be done in two ways -

a. In rows parallel to the wall being approached moving

toward this wall, row by row and wedging the last row
between the already condensed gold and the wall.

b. In rows perpendicular to the wall being approached.

 Always started at a point on one side and proceed in a
straight line to another point on the opposite side then
back to the original side on a different straight line.

 This ensures that the condenser has covered the entire

surface of that piece of gold.
 Significance
1. Ensures that each portion of the gold increment has
been welded and cold worked.
2. No voids
3. Maximal adaptation
4. Denser restoration
.
 IMPROPERLY CONDENSED
GOLD
4. PELLET PLACEMENT

 It refers to the exact location at which each pellet of

gold foil is placed in order to ensure correct building of
the gold.

 Each pellet should be placed where needed to be

condensed, not moved around after original placement.
 Accurate placing is essential to correct gold building.
Convenient points or starting points are refined
retention forms placed in the corners of the tooth
preparation to accept the first pellets and can be placed
in the preparation to facilitate starting the gold.

 They are usually pyramidal or triangular and prevent

slippage of the pellet or mass of mat or powdered gold.

 They are used in proximal class III restoration because

these preparations do not have four confining walls.
PELLET PLACEMENT
CONDENSATION OF MAT GOLD OR MAT FOIL

 Is different from that of regular cohesive gold.

 Condensed by hand and spread thoroughly into the

retention forms first.

 Mat gold's are spongy and thick and require a rocking

motion for adaptation.
 If the gold is too thick, the surface strain hardens,
preventing the condensation forces from properly forcing
the material against the tooth

 Thus, if the layer is too thick, the mat gold must be

`broken up' to prevent bridging and for obtaining proper
adaptation and condensation

 Even though adaptation is difficult (because of thickness),

mat gold's are easy to start in the cavity because they are
spongy

 Mat gold's can be used on axial walls of Class - V and III

restorations and pulpal walls of Class - I and II restoration
CONDENSATION OF POWDERED GOLD

 Manipulated in a similar way as the mat gold

 More pressure is required for the hardening of

encapsulated powdered gold because of varying sizes
and density of pellets

 Powdered pellets are placed in the cavity and the

envelops are ruptured with the face of the condenser
 Placed in the deepest part of the prepared cavity, and is
spread into the retention forms and line angles

 Then pressure is exerted with a rocking motion for

gradual hardening

 Advantages: produce a less porous surface, which does

not require a veneer of gold foil
INDICATIONS OF DIRECT FILLING GOLD

 Lesion with very limited dimensions and extent

 Lesions in which cavity margins can be located on

sound enamel surfaces

 Lesions in vital teeth, having a sound pulp-dentin

organ, intact supporting periodontium and the ability to
withstand condensation forces
 Lesions in which tooth structure left after removal of
diseased tissue is bulky enough to create self resisting
walls pronounced retention modes

 Lesions in patients with good oral hygiene, low caries

and plaque indices

 Areas necessary to repair perforations in cast gold alloy

restoration

 Teeth with no enamel crazing or micro cracks

CONTRA INDICATIONS OF DIRECT FILLING GOLD

 Teeth with very large pulp chambers

 Severely periodontally weakened teeth with

questionable prognosis

 When economics is a limiting factor

 In handicapped, elderly or very young patients who are

unable to sit for the longer dental appointment required
SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS

1. Class I cases of small carious lesions in pits and fissures

of posterior teeth and lingual surfaces of anterior teeth

2. For small Class III restorations on proximal surfaces of

anterior teeth where lesions are small enough to be treated
with pleasing esthetic results

3. Class II restorations indicated for small cavitated

proximal surface carious lesions in posterior teeth where
marginal ridges are not subjected to heavy occlusal forces
4. Class V restorations of all the teeth

5. Incisal edges or cusp tips suitable for class VI direct

gold restorations

6. Margin of otherwise acceptable cast gold restoration

can be restored with direct gold
CONCLUSION
 Direct filling gold are one of the most conservative,
permanent and serviceable restorations

 Though their handling characteristics are exacting they

are not difficult to place

 However, in present times there is less emphasis on

direct filling gold due to high cost, lack of technical
expertise and the ever increasing demand for esthetic
restorations
 REFERENCES
 Operative dentistry- modern theory and practice – M.A.
Marzouk
 Art & Science of operative dentistry –5th ed –Sturdevants
 Principles and practices of operative dentistry – G.T.
Charbeneau 3rd ed
 Science of dental materials- R.W. Phillips
 Textbook of operative dentistry- Lloyd Baum,
 Textbook of operative dentistry- Gilmore,Lund,Vermeti.4th
edition.
 Atlas of operative dentistry preclinical & clinical
procedure-Joseph Evan
 E-Z gold Oper Dent. 1996 Jan-Feb;21(1):36-41
 Stopfgold Oper Dent. 1994 Jan-Feb;19(1):16-9.