DENTAL AMALGAM

Dr.MOHAMMED THANZIL
BDS
 INTRODUCTION
• AN AMALAM IS AN ALLOY THAT CONTAINS MERCURY.

• DENTAL AMALGAM ALLOY[POWDER]

• Ag & Sn.

• DENAL AMALGAM[SET AMALGAM]

• Ag &Sn + Hg.
• AS THE CONTENT OF THE LIQUID MERCURY IN THE MIXTURE
DECREASE BY THE FORMATION OF PRECIPITATES, THE
MIXTURE HARDENS. THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS
AMALGAMATION.

• IN 1833, CRAWCROUR BROTHERS INTRODUCED IN US.

• IN EARLY 1960s G.V.BLACK FORMAULATED MODIFIED DENTAL

ALAMGAM WITH HIGH COPPER CONTENT AND SPHERICAL
PARTICALS.
• G.V.BLACK MODIFICATION INCLUDES
• COMPOSITION
• Ag-65%
• Sn-29%
• Cu-5%
• Zn-1%

• ADA SPECIFICATION NO: 1.

 CLASSIFICATION
• BASED ON NUMBER OF ALLOYS
• BINARY[Ag + Sn].
• TERNARY[Ag + Sn +Cu].
• QUATERNARY[Ag + Sn +Cu + Zn]

• BASED ON PARTICAL SIZE

• MICRO CUT.
• FINE CUT.
• COARSE CUT.
• BASED ON PARTICAL SHAPE
• LATHE CUT [NEEDLE LIKE].
• SPHERICAL.
• ADMIXTUE [LAHTE + SPHERICAL].

• BASED ON Cu CONTENT
• LOW Cu ALLOY
• LESS THAN 6% Cu.
• HIGH Cu ALLOY
• MORE THAN 6% Cu.
• LATEST ALLOYS CONTAINS 13-30% Cu{ AT EXPENSE OF Ag}
• BASSED ON Zn CONTENT
• Zn CONTAINING ALLOY
• MORE THAN 0.01% OF Zn.
• Zn FREE ALLOY
• LESS THAN 0.01% OF Zn.
 FUNCTION OF EACH
COMPONENT
• SILVER(Ag)-65%
• INCREASES SETTING EXPANSION AND STRENGTH.

• TIN(Sn)-29%
• HELPS IN AMALGAMATION.
• DECREASE EXPANSION

• COPPER(Cu)-5%
• IT GIVES STRENGTH, HARDNESS & SETTING EXPANSIOIN.
• REDUCES LOW EDGE STRENTH.
• ZINC(Zn)-1%
• IMPROVES LONGIVITY OF ALLOY.
• HELPS TO SMOOTH MANUFACTERING OF ALLOY POWDER.
• ACTS AS DEOXIDISER, WHICH IS OXYGEN SCAVENGER MINIMIZES
FORMATION OXIDES OF OTHER ELEMENTS DURING MELTING.

• MERCURY(Hg)
• FORMS WORKABLE MASS.

• PALLADIUM
• WHITENS AMALGAM
 MANIFACTURE OF ALLOY
• LATHE CUT ALLOY [IRREGULAR OR NEEDLE LIKE]
• Ag & Sn INGOT IS 1ST ANNEALED TO UNIFORM PHASE.
• INGOT IS COOLED SLOWELY.
• PHASES SOLIDIFY.
• HEAT TREATMENT [HOMOGENIZING ANNEALING]
• 400ºC FOR 6-8Hrs.
• GRIND, THEN MILL TO 25-50ų
• PARTICAL TREATMENT TO RELEASE STRESSES OF GRINDING
DONE AT 60º-100ºC FOR1-6 Hrs OR ACID WASHED. {TO REDUCE
REACTIVTY OF ALLOY POWDER}.
• SPHERICAL ALLOYS [ATOMIZATION]
• LIQUID Ag3Sn IS ATOMIZED INTO FINE SPHERIACAL DROPLETS OF
METAL IN A CHAMBER FILLED WITH INERT GAS.
• SPHERICAL PARTICALS SOLIDIFIES.
• SPHERICAL PARTICALS IS THEN ANNEALED OR ACID WASHED(AS
LIKE LATHE CUT POWDER).
• SIZE RANGES FROM 5-40ų.
NOTE:
• INGOT:A BLOCK OF METAL
• ATOMIZE:CONVERT IN VERY FINE PARTICE.
• ANNEALING:HEAT PROCESSING WHICH SOFTENS METALS
BEFORE PROCESSING METALS.
SPHERICAL LATHE-CUT

ADMIX ALLOY
 COMPOSITION
• LOW COPPER ALLOY
• SILVER ALLOY IS QUITE BRITTLE AND DIFFICULT TO BLEND
UNTILL SMALL AMOUNT OF Cu IS SUBSTITUTED FOR Ag.

• THE STRUCTURE OF CONVENTOINAL ALLOY IS Ag3Sn(γ PHASE)

WITH SOME Cu3Sn(ε PHASE).
• HIGH COPPER ALLOYS
ADMIXED
• THE 1ST HIGH COPER ALLOY WAS FORMAULATED BY MIXING ONE
PART OF SILVER-COPPER SPHERICAL EUTACTIC PARTICALS TO
TWO PARTS OF Ag3Sn PROVIDED AS LATHE CUT PARTICALS.

• THIS MODIFICATION RAISES THE Cu CONTENT TO 11.8%.

 SPHERICAL
• AN ANOTHER TYPE OF HIGH COPPER ALLOY IS SPHERICAL
SHAPED WHICH IS OBTAINED BY ATOMIZATION PROCESS.

• Cu CONTENT IN THIS TYPE OF ALLOY IS AS HIGH AS 30% BY

WEIGHT.

• VARIOUS AMOUNT OF INDIUM OR PALLADIUM HAVE BEEN

INCLUDED IN SOME COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS.
 LATHE CUT VS SPHERICAL
ALLOYS
• LATHE CUT & ADMIXED ALLOYS RESIST CONDENSATION
BETTER THAN SPHERICAL ALLOYS.

• FRESHLY TITURATED SPHERICAL ALLOY IS VERY PLASTIC.

• ONE CANT RELY ON THE PRESSURE OF CONDENSATION TO

ESTRABLISH THE PROXIMAL CONTOUR FOR A CLASS II.
• SPHERICAL ALLOYS REQUIRE LESS MERCURY, BECAUSE IT HAS
SMALLER SURFACE AREA PER VOLUME.

• AMALGAM WITH LOW MERCURY HAS BETTER PORPERTY.

 AMALGAMATION
• LOW COPPER ALLOY
Ag3Sn + Hg → Ag3Sn + Ag2Hg3 + Sn7-8Hg.
γ (UNREACTED) γ1 γ2

• HIGH COPPER ADMIX ALLOY

Ag3Sn + Ag-Cu + Hg → Ag2Hg3 + Sn7-8Hg + Ag3Sn +
γ EUTACTIC ALLOY γ1 γ2
Ag-Cu.

Sn7-8Hg + Ag-Cu → Cu6Sn5 + Ag2Hg3.

γ2 η γ1
• HIGH COPPER SPHERICAL ALLOY
Ag3Sn + Cu3Sn + Hg → Ag2Hg3 + Cu6Sn5 + Ag3Sn +
γ ε γ1 η

Cu3Sn
 PHASES
γ →STRONGEST PHASE UNREACTED ALLOY.
γ1→60% OF TOTAL ALLOY.
γ2→RESPONSIBLE FOR LOW ALLOY, WEEKEST PHASE, MOST
CORROSIVE, 10% OF TOTAL VOLUME, ↓se WITH TIME DUE TO
CORROSION.
ε→DEVELPOSE CRYSTALS ON SURFACE OF GAMMA PARTICLE
IN THE FORM OF η (GRAIN BOUNDARY SLIDING).
 LOW-COPPER ALLOY
• LOW COPPER AMALGAM IS USUALLY MIXED IN A RATIO OF
ABOUT 1:1.

• THIS IS INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF MERCURY.

• UNCONSUMED PARTICALS IS PRESENT WITHIN THE SET

AMALGAM AND EMDERDDED WITHIN γ1 AND γ2 PHASE.
• THE REACTION PRODUCT IS BODY CENTERED CUBIC γ1(Ag2Hg3)
AND PHASE CENTERED CUBIC γ2(Sn7-8Hg).

• PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF THE AMALGAM DEPEND ON THE EACH

MICRO-STRUCTURAL PHASES.

• GREATER THE UNCONSUMED Ag-Sn PARTICALS STRONGER THE

AMALGAM.

• γ2 PHASE IS WEAKEST PHASE AND SUFFER IN CORROSIVE

ENVERONMENT.
• ADDITION OF MORE THAN 6% OF COPPER BY WEIGHT CAN
REDUCE OR ELIMINATE γ2 PHASE.
 HIGH COPPER ALLOY
• TWO DIFFERENT TYPE OF HIGH COPPER IS AVAILABLE.
• ADMIXED.
• SINGLE COMPOSITION.

• BOTH CONTAINS >6% OF COPPER.

• ADMIXED ALLOYS
• WHEN MERCURY IS MIXED WITH ALLOY Ag in Ag-Cu PHASE AND
Ag AND Sn FROM Ag-Sn PARTICALS DISOLVES IN MERCURY.

• BOTH γ1 AND γ2 PHASES IS FORMED.

• γ2 PHASE REACTES WITH UNREACTED Ag-Cu PARTICALS TO ή

PHASE.
NOTE:Cu6Sn5 η(ή) phase exhibits a solid phase transformation at
186-189ºC which is η phase. Since formation of Cu6Sn5 phase in
amalgam is at room temperature, ή phase is used.
• γ2 PHASE CAN BE ELIMINATED WITH ATLEAST 11.8% OF COPPER
BY WEIGHT.
• SINGLE COMPOSITION ALLOY
• COPPER CONTENT OF VARIOUS SIGLE COMPOSITION ALLOY
RANGES FROM 13-30% BY WEIGHT.
• UNICOMPOSITION CONTAINS Ag3Sn (γ)PHASE AND Cu3Sn
(ε)PHASE.
• Sn7-8Hg(γ2) AND Cu3Sn (ε)PHASE REACTS TO FORM Cu6Sn5(ή).
• γ1 PHASE FORMS A MATRIX THAT BINDS TOGETHER PARTIALLY
DISSOLVED ALLOY PARTICALS.
• ή CRYSTALS ARE FOUND TO BE MESHES OF ROD-LIKE CRYSTALS
AT THE SURFACE OF ALLOY PARTICLES.
A-γ1
B-ή unconsumed
particals
C-ή phase in
mesh
 • IN MOST OF SINGLE COMPOSITION AMALGAMS LITTLE OR NO γ2
PHASE IS FORMED.
P-unconsumed alloy G1-γ1 phase H-ή phase
 MERCURY/ALLOY RATIO
• MERCURY CONTENT OF
• LATHE-CUT ALLOY IS ABOUT 50% BY WEIGTH.
• SPHERICAL ALLOY IS 42% BY WEIGHT.

• INITIALLY INCREASED DRYNESS TECHNIQUE 5:6.

• EAMES TECHNIQUE 1:1 MINIMAL MERCURY TECHNIQUE.

• REMOVAL OF EXCESS OF MERCURY WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY
SQUEEZING OR WRINGING(MULLING) PRIOR TO INSERTION OF
THE INCREMENTS INTO THE CAVITY.

• PROPORTIONING OF MERCURY/ALLOY
• ALLOY MERCURY DISPENSORE.
• VOLUMETRIC PROPORTIONING.
• PREWEIGHTED PELLETS.
 TITURATION
• IT PROVIDES PROPER AMALGAMATION OF MERCURY AND
ALLOY.

• OXIDE LAYER ON THE SURAFE OF ALLOY HINDERS DIFFUSION

OF MERCURY INTO THE ALLOYS.

• OXIDE LAYER IS REMOVED BY ABRASION WHEN THE ALLOY

PARTICLES AND MERCURY ARE TITURATED.
 TRITURATORS
• MAIN MIXINIG MECHANISM OF A MECHANICAL TRITURATOR
IS A RECIPROCRATING ARM THAT HOLDS THE CAPSULE
UNDER A PROTECTIVE HOOD.
• FOR GIVEN ALLOY ANDMERCURY/ALLOY RATIO, INCREASED
TRITURATION TIME AND /OR SPEED SHORTEN THE WORKING
TIME AND SETTING TIMES.

• AFTER EACH TRITURATION, ONE SHOULD QUICKLY REMOVE

THE PESTLE(METAL OR PLASTIC) FROM CAPSULE , REINSERT
THE CAPSULE IN THE TRITURATOR, TURN IT ON FOR FEW
SECONDS{MULLING}.

• MULLING CAUSE COHERE SO THAT AMALGAM CAN BE READILY

REMOVED FROM CAPSULE.
A-Reusable capsule with
Pestle.
B- Pre-proportioned capsule
With pestle.
C- Pre-proportioned capsule
Without pestle.
 CONSISTENCY OF THE MIX
• VERY GRAINY MIX INDICATES UNDERTRITURATION.
• THIS MIX MOULD BE
• WEAK.
• ROUGH SURFACE LEFT AFTER CARVING.
• INCREASE ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO TARNISH.

• PROPERLY TRITURATED AMALGAM

• THIS MIX WOULD BE
• STRENGTH WILL BE OPTIMUM.
• SMOOTH CARVING.
• RETAIN LUSTER LONG AFTER POLISHING.
• OVER TRITURATED AMALGAM
• RESULT OF HIGHER SPEED OR LONGER MIXING TIME
• SHINIER
• SHAPE OF THE MASS IS FLATTER
• WORKING TIME IS SHORTER
• SLIGHTLY HIGHER SETTING CONTRACTION.
 CONDENSATION
• GOAL OF CONDENSATION IS TO COMPACT THE ALLOY INTO
THE PREPARED CAVITY

• THIS RESULTS FROM A REDUCTION OF EXCESS MERCURY AND

POROSITY WITHIN THE SET AMALGAM.

• TO PROVIDE A VOID FREE RESTORATION.

• TO REMOVE EXCESS MERCURY.

• ALLOWABLE TIME GAP BETWEEN TRITURATION AND
CONDENSATION IS 1-3mins(longer the time weaker the
amalgam).
 CONDENSATIOIN PRESSURE
• AREA OF THE CONDENSER TIP AND THE FORCE EXERTED ON
IT BY THE OPERATOR GOVERN THE CONDENSATION
PRESSURE.
• SMALLER THE CONDENSOR MORE THE PRESSURE DELIVERED.
• SPHERICAL ALLOY OFFER ONLY MINIMAL RESISTANCE TO THE
CONDENSATION FORCE.
• POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGE OF SPHERICAL ALLOY OVER
ADMIXED ALLOY IS THE TENDENCY FOR OVERHANGS IN
PROXIMAL AREAS AND WEAK PROXIMAL CONTCATS.

• SHAPE OF THE CONDENSER TIPS SHOULD CONFORM TO THE

AREA UNDER CONDENSATION.

• OPTIMUM PRESSURE IS 3-4lbs.

 CARVING AND FINISHING
• PRECARVE BURNISHING
• TO BRING THE AMALGAM TO MARGINS.
• SINCE AMALGAM HAS LOW EDGE STRENGTH.

• CARVING
• AMALGAM IS CARVED TO REPRODUCE THE PROPER TOOTH
ANATOMY.
• CARVING NOT BE STARTED UNTIL THE AMALGAM IS HARD ENOUGH
TO OFFER RESISTANCE TO CARVING INSTRUMENTS{SCARPING OR
RINGING SOUND}.
• POST CARVE BURNISHING
• TO PROVIDE SMOOTH APPEARANCE.
 POLISHING
• WET POLISHING OR CONDITIONAL POLISHING
• 15 MINS AFTER RESTORATION
• USING PUMICE.

• AFTER 24 hrs WET POLISHNING

• A WET ABRASIVE PASTE WITH DIMINISHING GRADE OF
ABRASIVES.
• DRY POLISHING POWDER AND DISKS CAN EASILY RAISE THE
TEMP TO EVPORICATION OF Hg.
• BEFORE POLISHING

• AFTER POLISHING
 PROPERTY
• DIMENTIONAL STABILITY
• ADA SPECIFICATION NO:1 REQUIRES DIMENTIONAL CHANGE OF
AMALGAM BE IN THE RANGE OF 15-20µm/cm Btw 5min TO
20hrs AFTER THE BEGINNING OF TRITURATION.

• MECHGANISM OF CONTRACTION
• WHEN ALLOY AND MERCURY IS MIXED CONTRACTION RESULT
AS THE PARTICES DISSOLVE.
• THE FINAL VOLUME OF γ1 PHASE IS LESS THAN THE SUM OF THE
SILVER AND MERCURY VOLUME.
• CONTRACTION CONTINUES AS LONG AS THE γ1 PHASE GROWING.
• AS γ1 CRYSTAL GROWS, THE WILL IMPINGE AGAINST ONE
AGAINST[EXPANSION OCCURS].
 EFFECT OF MOISTURE
CONTAMINATION
• WHEN ZINC CONTAINING, LOW-COPPER AND HIGH-COPPER
AMALGAM IS CONTAMINATED BY MOISTURE DURING
TRITURATION OR CONDENSATION, A LARGE EXPANSION IS
SEEN.

• THIS EXPANSION STARTS 3-5 DAYS CONTINUES FOR MONTHS.

• MAGNITUDE OF EXPANSION IS 400µm/cm OR 4%.

• THE EFFECT IS CAUSED BY THE HYDROGEN PRODUCED BY
ELECTROLYTIC ACTION INVOLVING ZINC AND WATER.

Zn + H2O → ZnO + H2.

 MERCUROSCOPIC EXPANSION
• THIS OCCURS DUE TO CORROSION.
Sn7-8Hg(γ2) + ORAL FLUID
↓
Sn² + Hg
↓
Sn² in oral cavity ↔--γ+Hg---→ γ1 + γ2
Sn salts ↓
further reaction with oral fluids
• γ2 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIVE CORROSION.

• CORROSION OF PHASE RESULTS IN RELEASE OF Sn² AND Hg.

• LATER Hg REACTING WITH γ PHASE TO FORM MORE OF γ1

AND γ2

• Sn² ions FORMS SALTS IN ORAL CAVITY.

• HOMOGENOUS SURFACE ON RESTORATION CAN MINIMIZE

CORROSION REGARDLESS TO ALLOY SYSTEM USED.
 TARNISH
• SURFACE DISCOLOURATION ON METAL OR ALTERATION OF
SURFACE FINISHING OR LUSTURE.

• TENDENCY TO TARNISH RRESULTING IN SILVER SULPHIDES

FROMING IN SURFACE.

• DOES NOT EFFECT THE MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF

AMALGAM.
 CREEP
• TIME DEPENDENT PLASTIC DEFORMATION DUE TO STATIC
LOAD OR STRESS.

• HIGHER THE AMOUNT OF CREEP GREATER THE AMOUNT OF

MARGINAL DETERIORATION.

• WHEN AMALGAM CREEPS, γ1 PHASE DEFORMS PLASTICALLY.

• HIGHER CREEP RATE IS EXPECTED FOR LOW COPPER
AMALGAM WITH HIGHER γ1 VOLUME FRACTION.

• γ2 PHASE INCREASES CREEP RATE.

• IN HIGH COPPER AMALGAM,

• IN SINGLE COMPOSITION SPHERICAL ALLOYS.
• ABSENCE OF γ2 PHASE.
• LOW CREEP RATE MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH ή RODES WHICH
PREVENTS DEFORMATION OR SLIDING OF γ1
PHASE{INTERLOCKS}.
 STRENGTH
• AS AMALGAM SETS STRENGTH INCREASE SLOWLY
• 1st hr- 40-60% OF MAXIMUM.
• 24th hr- 90%OF MAXIMUM.

• SPHERICAL ALLOYS STRENGTHENS FASTER.

• REQUIRES LESS MERCURY.

• AMALGAM IS WEAK IN THIN SECTIONS.

• AMLAGAM HAS LOW EDGE STRENGTH.
• GAINS STRENGTH BY BULK.

• COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH{AT 7 DAYS}:

• LOW COPPER- 343MPa.
• HIGH COPPER(ADMIXED)- 431MPa.
• HIGH COOPER(SINGLE)- 510MPa.

• EFFECT OF TRITURATION
• UNDER TRITURATED AND OVER TRITURATED AMALGAM SHOWS
LOW STRENGTH.

edge or marginal breakdown

(low edge strength)
• EFFECT OF MERCURY CONTENT
• INSUFFICIENT Hg CAUSE DRY, GRANULAR MIX[PROMOTES
CORROSION].
• HIGH Hg CONTENT PROMOTES FORMATION OF γ2 PHASE EVEN IN
HIGH COPPER AMALGAM.

• EFFECT OF CONDENSATION PRESSURE

• HIGHER CONDENSATIOIN PRESSURE EXPRESS
MERCURY{RESULTING IN LESS FRACTURE IN MATRIX PHASE}.
• IN LATHE-CUT AMALGAM
• HIGHER PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO EXPRESS MERCURY AND
MINIMIZE POROSITY.
 • IN SPHERICAL AMALGAM
• LIGHTER PRESSURE PRODUCE ADEQUATE STRENGTH.

• EFFECT OF POROSITY
• DELAYED CONDENSATION OR UNDERTRITURATION MAY LEAD TO
POROSITY.
• REDUCE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH.
• INSUFFICIENT CONDENSATION PRESSURE IN LATHE-CUT ALLOYS.
• EFFECT OF AMALGAM HARDENING RATE
• AMALGAMS SET SLOWELY
• MINIMUM COPMRESSIVE SRENGTH IN 1hr:
• LOW COPPER-145MPa.
• HIGH COPPER-137MPa(ADMIXED).
• HIGH COPPER-262MPa(SINGLE).patient

NOTE : patient should be warned not to subject the restoration to

high biting force at least for 8hrs after restoration.{by that time
70% strength may be gained.
 ADVANTAGES
• EASE OF USE
• HIGH COMPERSSIVE STRENGTH
• EXCELLENT WEAR RESISTANCE
• FAVOURABLE LONG-TERM CLINICAL RESULTS
• LOWER COST THAN COMPOSITE
 DISADVANTAGES
• NONESTHETIC
• NONINSULATING
• LESS CONSERVATIVE
• WEAKEND TOOTH STRUCTURES
• MORE TECHNIQUE SENSITIVE
• NON BONDING TO TOOTH STRUCTURES
• INITIAL MARGINAL LEAKAGE
 MERCURY TOXICITY
• TOXICITY IS THE ABILITY OF A MATERIAL TO CAUSE INJURY TO
BIOLOGICAL TISSUE,RANGING FROM IMPROPER BIOCHEMICAL
FUNCTION, ORGAN DAMAGE, AND CELL DISTRUCTION TO
DEATH.

• MERCURY TOXICITY FROM DENTAL FILLINGS IS THE CAUSE OF

CERTAIN UNDIAGNOSED ILLNEESSES AND HAZARD MAY EXIT
FOR DENTIST OR DENTAL ASSISTANT WHEN MERCURY VAPOR
IS INHALED DURING MIXING, PLACEMENT AND REMOVAL OF
AMALGAM.
• PATIENT’S ENCOUNTER WITH MERCURY VAPOR DURING
INSERTION OF THE RESTORETION IS BRIEF.

• TOTAL AMOUNT OF MERCURY VAPOR REALEASED DURING

OCCLUSION ON AMALAGAM RESTORATION IS FAR BELOW THE
“NO EFFECT LEVEL”.

• STIDIES SHOWS THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF VAPOR EXPOSED

FOR A PATIENT WITH 8-10 AMALGAM RESTORATION IS IN THE
RANGE OF 1.1-4.4μg/day.

• THRESHOLD FOR WORKERS IN MERCURY INDUSTRY IS 350-

500μg/day.
• TOXICITY THRESHOLD FOR PATIENT RECEIVING SEVERAL
RESTORATION FAR BELOW THE RANGE OF THE VALUE BY THE
US GOVERNMENT TO OCCUPATION ENVIRONMENT.

• MERCURY BLOOD LEVEL IN PATIENT WITH AMALGAM

RESTORATION IS 0.7ng/ml, COMPARED WITH THE VALUE OF
0.3ng/ml FOR SUBJECT IN NO AMLAGAM RESTORATION.

• THE NORMAL DAILY INTAKE OF MERCURY IS

• 15μg FROM FOOD
• 1μg FROM AIR
• 0.4μg FROM WATER
• UNDOUBTFULLY, SAMLL AMOUNT OF MERCURY IS RELEASE
DURING MASTICATION.

• MERCURY TOXICITY IN PATIENTS OR MERCURY PENETRATION

IN TOOTH OR SENSITZATION FROM MERCURY SALTS ARE
EXTREMELY RARE.
 MERCURY HYGIENE
• POTENTIAL HAZARD OF MERCURY CAN BE GREATLY REDUCED
BY ATTENTION TO A FEW PERCAUTIONARY MEASURES.

• DENTAL OFFICE OR OPERATORY IS WELL VENTRILATED.

• ALL EXCESS MERCURY –INCLUDING WASTE, DISPOSABLE

CAPSULE, AND AMALAGAM REMOVED DURING
CONDENSATION– SHOULD BE COLLECTED IN A SEALED
CONTAINER.
• AMALGAM SCRAP AND MATERIAL CONTAMINATED WITH
MERCURY OR AMALGAM SHOLUD NOT BE INCINERATED OR
SUBJECTED TO HEAT STERILIZATION.

• IF MERCURY IS SPILLED,
• IT MUST BE CLEANED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
• IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE MERCURY FROM THE CARPET.
• ORDINARY VACCUM CLEANER DISPERSE THE MERCURY
FURTHER.
• MERCURY SUPRESSANT POWDERARE HELPFUL, FOR
TEMPORARY MEASURE.

• IF MERCURY COMES IN CONTACT WITH SKIN, SHOULD BE

WASHED WITH SOAP AND WATER.
• REUSABLE CAPSULE UTILIZED WITH MECHANICAL
TRITURATIONSHOULD HAVE A TIGHT FITTED CAP TO AVOID
MERCURY LEAKAGE.

• EYE PROTECTION, A DISPOSABLE MASK, GLOVES ARE NOW

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR DENTAL PARATICE.

• USE OF ULTRASONIC AMALGAM CONDENSOR IS NOT

RECOMMENDED(SMALL AMALAGAM DROPLETS IS ABSORBED
SURROUNDING THE CONDENSATION.
• BIOLOGICAL DETERMINATION CAN BE PERFORMED ON
OFFICE STAFFS TO MEASURE THE MERCURY LEVELS IN BLOOD
AND URINE.

• RISK FROM MERCURY EXPOSURE TO DENTAL PERSONNEL

CANNNOT BE IGNORED,BUT CLOSE ADHERENCE TO SIMPLE
HYGIENE PROCEDURES WILL HELP TO ENSURE A SAFE
WORKING ENVIRONMENT.