A study on the condensation pressure for spherical amalgam

Microleakage of amalgam alloys: an update

Using an in vitro air pressure test, the authors found a wide variation in the microleakage characteristics of amalgam restorations made from 33 recently manufactured precapsulated alloys. Spherical particle alloys as a group exhibited the highest microleakage values. When the authors changed the mercury/alloy ratios to produce 1 percent more mercury in the capsules by weight, microleakage decreased significantly. Because extensive microleakage of amalgam restorations has been related to increased postoperative sensitivity, the authors suggest that practitioners should be alert to this potential problem.

Sensitivity answers sought in amalgam alloy microleakage study

Sensitivity often occurs shortly after an amalgam restoration is placed. This phenomenon has been related in part to microleakage at the amalgam/tooth interface. When microleakage characteristics of a large number of commercially available dental amalgams were examined, results showed wide variation in the amount of microleakage.