DR CHETAN R PATIL

AMALGAM FAILURE

 Fracture of the restoration

 Fracture of the tooth

 Inadequate retention

 Marginal leakage

 Porous and weak restoration

 Tarnish and corrosion

 Gingivitis and periodontitis

 Lack of functional efficiency

 Pain after restoration

 Discoloration of the tooth

FRACTURE OF THE RESTORATION

CAUSES EFFECTS

Too shallow cavity

Too thick cavity liner Amalgam thin

Too thick cement base

 CAUSES EFFECTS

Inadequate cuspal reduction

Giving cavosurface bevel Amalgam thin (over

the cusp)
 CAUSES EFFECT

Shart axio pulpal line

angle
Stress concentration
(fracture through isthmus)
Sharp angles in occlusal
outline form of class II
 CAUSES EFFECT
Slopping gingival step
No resistance form
Too narrow gingival step (fracture through isthmus)

Insufficient Hg

Amalgam weak
Excess Hg

Under trituration
 CAUSES EFFECT

Moisture contamination Delayed expansion (flow

(Zn having alloys) over margins)
Insufficient condensation
pressure Increased residual Hg
Not squeezing out excess
Hg
 CAUSES EFFECT
Mix squeezed too dry
Lack of cohesion
Condensation of partially (amalgam weak)
crystallized amalgam

Over filling Thin amalgam over

margins
 CAUSES EFFECT
Failure to warn patient not
to chew on the restoration Early to support proximal
for first few hours part of the restoration
while removing matrix
Failure to support band
proximal part of the
restoration while removing
matrix band
 FRACTURE OF THE TOOTH

Causes Effects

Sharp angles in occlusal Stress concentration

outline of Cl II
Excess removal of tooth Enamel undermined and
structure tooth weakened
 INADEQUATE RETENTION

CAUSES EFFECTS

Absence of under cut No retention form

Dovetail with only one No resistance to

cornu dislodgement
Too thick liner that is lost Lack of adaptation to
subsequently cavity walls
Using large condensers Undercuts and margins
initially not filled. No retention
 MARGINAL LEAKAGE

CAUSES EFFECTS
Excess Sn (tin) the alloy Too much shrinkage

Over trituration Shrinkage on setting

Excessive pestle pressure Slow setting with shrinkage

Failure to condense towards margin Marginal gaps

Using large condensers initially Deficient margins and undercuts

Carving from amalgam to tooth Marginal defects and gaps

Excess amalgam left beyond cavo Breaks away leaving deficient

surface angles margins.
 POROUS AND WEAK AMALGAM

CAUSES EFFECTS
Increased Y2 phase (low Cu alloys) Weak phase

Irregularly shaped particles in the alloy Porosities and voids; less coherence of phases

Too less Hg Same as above (incomplete amalgamation;

non plastic)
Too much Hg Increased residual Hg (increased Y2 phase,
decreased Y1 phase phases)
Under titutration Porosities and voids

Tituration beyond limits Decreased coherence (due to crackingof

crystals)
Delayed insertion after trituration Porosities and voids

Insertion of too large increments

 CAUSES EFFECTS

Decreased condensation pressure Porosities and voids (increased

residual Hg)
Moisture contamination Porous amalgam

Mix squeezed too dry Decreased coherence

Mix not squeezed (with high Hg: alloy Porosities and voids (increased
ratio) residual Hg)
Condensation of partially crystallized Porous amalgam
amalgam
Condensing with serrated pluggers Old amalgam contaminates
with set amalgam in the serrations restoration and weakens it

Over heating while polishing Burns amalgam and releases Hg

resulting in porositiy
Burnishing set amalgam Breaks up superficial crystalline
structure releasing Hg causing
porosity
 TARNISH AND CORROSION

CAUSES EFFECTS
Alloy with excess Y2 phase Has least resistance to corrosion

Fissures carved too deep Food stagnation leading to tarnish

and corrosion
Failure to polish Rough surface causing crevicular
corrosion
Contact with dissimilar metallic Galvanic corrosion
restoration
 GINGIVITIS AND PERIODONTITIS

CAUSES EFFECTS
No wedge used Gross overhang; contact area
deficiency
Surface left high in bite High point causing periodontitis

Failure to polish proximal surface Food stagnation resulting in

gingivitis and periodontitis
Lack of proximal contact
 LACK OF FUNCTIONAL EFFICIENCY

CAUSES EFFECTS
Fissures carved too deep Reduced masticatory efficiency

Under filling

Failure to carve Decreased masticatory efficiency

(tooth anatomy not simulated)
 PAIN AFTER PLACING RESTORATION

CAUSES EFFECTS
Failures to use liner and base Thermal conduction

Overfiling High point causing peridontitis resulting

in pain
Moisture contamination Delayed expansion with pressure on pulp

Increased Hg: alloy ration Mercuroscopic expansion (increased

residual Hg)
Failure to squeeze out excess Hg Mercuroscopic expansion (increased
residual Hg)
Inadequate condensation pressure

Cavity preparation without water Pulpitis in pain

Microscopic pulp exposure

 TOOTH DISCOLORATION
Some times excess Hg within the restoration
may seep through the dentinal tubules,
discolor dentin and result in blackish or
grayish staining of teeth. since enamel is semi
translucent, this discoloration is not
inconspicuous.