PFM Alloys

Applications-substructures for porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and bridges
 
Classification
o    High-gold alloys
o    Palladium-silver alloys
o    Nickel-chromium alloys

Structure

Composition
o    High-gold alloys are 98% gold. platinum. And palladium
o    Palladium-silver alloys are 50% to 60% palladium and 30 to 40% silver
o    Nickel-chromium alloys are 70% to 80% nickel and 15% chromium with other metals

Manipulation
o    Must have melting temperatures above that of porcelains to be bonded to their surface
o    More difficult to cast (see section on chromium alloys)

Properties - Physical

Except for high-gold alloys, others are less dense alloys
Alloys are designed to have low thermal expansion coefficients that must be matched to the overlying porcelain

Chemical-high-gold alloys are immune, but others passivate

Mechanical-high modulus and hardness
 

Mercury hygiene

• Do not contact mercury with skin
• Clean up spills to minimize mercury vaporization
• Store mercury or precapsulated products in tight containers
• Only triturate amalgam components-in tightly- sealed capsules
• Use amalgam with covers
• Store spent amalgam under water or fixer in a tightly sealed jar
• Use high vacuum suction during amalgam alloy placement, setting, or removal when mercury may be vaporized
• Polishing amalgams generally causes localized melting of silver-mercury phase with release of mercury vapor, so water cooling and evacuation must be used

Impression Material

Model. Cast. and Die Materials

Applications
- Gold casting, porcelain and porcelain-fused–to metal fabrication procedures
- Orthodontic and pedodontic appliance construction
- Study models for occlusal records

Terms
a. Models-replicas of hard and soft tissues for study of dental symmetry
b. Casts-working replicas of hard and soft tissues for use in the fabrication of appliances or restorations
c. Dies :-  working replicas of one tooth (or a few teeth) used for the fabrication of a restoration
d. Duplicates-second casts prepared from original  casts

Classification by materials

a Models :- (model plaster or orthodontic stone; gypsum product)
b. Stone casts (regular stone; gypsum product)
c. Stone dies (diestone; gypsum product)-may electroplated
d. Epoxy dies (epoxy polymer)-abrasion-resistant dies

Structure of gypsum products

Components
 
a. Powder (calcium sulfate hemihydrate = CaSO4½H2O)
b. Water (for reaction with powder and dispersing powder)

Properties of Amalgam.

The most important physical properties of amalgam are

• Coefficient of thermal expansion = 25-1 >ppm/ C (thus amalgams allow percolation during temperature changes)

• Thermal conductivity-high (therefore, amalgams need insulating liner or base in deep restorations)
• Flow and creep. Flow and creep are characteristics that deal with an amalgam undergoing deformation when stressed. The lower the creep value of an amalgam, the better the marginal integrity of the restoration. Alloys with high copper content usually have lower creep values than the conventional silver-tin alloys.

 Dimensional change. An amalgam can expand or contract depending upon its usage. Dimensional change can be minimized by proper usage of alloy and mercury. Dimensional change on setting, less than ± 20 (excessive expansion can produce post operative pain)

•  Compression strength. Sufficient strength to resist fracture is an important requirement for any restorative material. At a 50 percent mercury content, the compression strength is approximately 52,000 psi. In comparison, the compressive strength of dentin and enamel is 30,000 psi and 100,000 psi, respectively. The strength of an amalgam is determined primarily by the composition of the alloy, the amount of residual mercury remaining after condensation, and the degree of porosity in the amalgam restoration.
• Electrochemical corrosion produces penetrating corrosion of low-copper amalgams but only produces superficial corrosion of high copper amalgams, so they last longer

• Because of low tensile strength, enamel support is needed at margins

• Spherical high-copper alloys develop high tensile strength faster and can be polished sooner
• Excessive creep is associated with silver mercury phase of low-copper amalgams and contributes to early marginal fracture
• Marginal fracture correlated with creep and electrochemical corrosion in low-copper amalgams
• Bulk fracture (isthmus fracture) occurs across thinnest portions of amalgam restorations because  of high stresses during traumatic occlusion and/or the accumulated effects of fatigue
• Dental amalgam is very resistant to abrasion