BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMALGAM AND COMPOSITES
FEATURES AMALGAM COMPOSITES
1. Primary -convergence -mainly by
retention form occlusally micromechanical
bonding
2. Secondary -Grooves, slots, locks, -Mainly bonding
retention form pins
3. Resistance form -flat floors, internal - Not required here.
line angles rounded
4. Technique -tooth must be isolated -More technique
sensitivity properly sensitive than
amalgam
5. Walls of the -Smooth - Rough
preparation
6. Location -Posterior teeth -Mainly anterior teeth
plus aesthetically
prominent post. Areas.
7. Base -2mmm thickness of - Not needed
base between pulp and
amalgam
8. Mechanical -Good mechanical -Poor mechanical
properties properties properties- easily
wears down.
9. Esthetics -Poor -Excellent
10. Pulpal -1.5 mm, uniform - just remove caries,
depth and non-uniform
uniform/non-
uniform
11. Outline - Include carious Remove carious areas
form areas
12. Age - Expand with age -Contract with age
changes
13. Life span - 12 years - 7 years
14. Conservati - Non- - Conservative as
on of tooth conservative compared to
structure amalgam
15. Hazards - More hazards - Hazard free
for dental team
and patients
16. Polishing - After 24 hours - Immediately
time
17. cavosurfac - 90 degree - 90 degree less
e margin
18. Self - Present through - Absent
sealing property corrosion
products
19. Physical - Excellent - Poor physical
properties compressive properties
strength and
wear resistance
20. Uses - Mainly used in - Used in Class I,
class II and I II, III, IV, V
21. Cavity size - Mostly extensive - Mostly small
22. Toxicity - Present due to - Absent
mercury vapours
23. Staining - Amalgam tattoos - Absent
potential
24. cost - Less than - More than
composite amalgam
OKAY SO WHATS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THEIR CAVITY PREPARARTIONS:
LETS CONSIDER ONE BY ONE …….
CLASS I-
Bevelling indication is resistance form
increase
In composites – basic advantage of bevelling-
increase the surface area- increase esthetics-
better blending.
OKAY LETS SEE HOW THEY DIFFER IN CLASS 2
CAVITY PREPARATION
Amalgam- buccal and lingual walls are converging
Composite- buccal and lingual walls are not necessarily converging
coz its micromechanical retention.
Gold- buccal and lingual walls are straight not converging
Amalgam vs composite
CONTRAINDICATIONS OF COMPOSITES
Composites- ingredients
FILLER IMPROVES PHYSICAL PROPERTIES- INCREASE IN
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
CORROSION RESISTANCE
TOUGHNESS
HARDNESS
ABRASION RESISTANCE
OCCLUSAL LOAD WITHSTANDING CAPACITY
FILLER ALSO AFFECTS CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DECREASES POLYMERISATION SHRINKAGE--- MICROLEAKGE
DECREASES SOLUBILITY,
AFFECTS COEFF. OF THERMAL EXPANSION
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY- INCREASE IN STIFFNESS
FILLING ROUGH NOT SMOOTH
FILLER SIZE- ESTHETICS- MORE THE SIZE –POOR THE ESTHETICS
FILLER NUMBER- MORE THE NUMBER MORE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Macrofilled
Microfilled
Nanofilled
You gave the filling light cured composite to
a patient. Superficial layer got cured earlier
as you gave single increment of composite.
What will be happen if the deeper layer got
uncured?
a. Pulp inflammation
b. Sagging of filling
c. Secondary caries
d. Microleakage
Zinc + palladium + silver + copper + indium =
friends ++++++++
Tin + mercury – friends -------
++++ corrosion, tarnish, fatigue, creep,
ditching of amalgam
Amalgam has basically three types
Highest creep is seen in lathe cut – 6%
Amalgam is basically into two types –
conventional and unicompositional
Conventional – has three types in further
Lathe cut amalgam
Admixed amalgam
Spherical amalgam
Lathe cut spherical admixed
Amalgam
Definition-
Types
Ingredients
Setting reaction
Carving, trituration, burnishing,
condensation.
Amalgam failures
