FAILURES OF AMALGAM

FRACTURE OF THE RESTORATION

CAUSE

EFFECT

Too shallow cavity

Too thick cavity liner

Amalgam thin

Too thick cement base

Inadequate cuspal reduction
Giving cavosurface bevel

Amalgam thin (over the cusp)

Sharp axio-pulpal line angle

Stress concentration (fracture thro'

Sharp angles in occlusal outline form of isthmus)
Class II
Sloping gingival step
Too narrow gingival step

No resistance form (fracture thro'

isthmus)

Insufficient Hg
Excess Hg

Amalgam weak

Undertrituration
Moisture contamination (Zn having
alloys)
Insufficient condensation pressure
Not squeezing out excess Hg

Delayed expansion (flow over margins)

Increased residual Hg

Mix squeezed too dry

Condensation of partially crystallized
amalgam

Lack of cohesion (amalgam weak)

Overfilling

Thin amalgam over margins

Failure to warn patient not to chew on

the restoration for first few hours
Failure to support proximal part of the
restoration while removing matrix band

Early strength not high enough

FRACTURE OF THE TOOTH

CAUSE

EFFECT

Sharp angles in occlusal outline of Class

Stress concentration
II
Excess removal of tooth structure

Enamel undermined and tooth weakened

INADEQUATE RETENTION

CAUSE

EFFECT

Absence of undercuts

No retention form

Dovetail with only one cornu

No resistance to dislodgement

Too thick liner that is lost subsequently Lack of adaptation to cavity walls
Using large condensers initially

Undercuts and margins not filled - No

retention

MARGINAL LEAKAGE

CAUSE

EFFECT

Excess Sn (tin) in the alloy

Too much shrinkage

Overtrituration

Shrinkage on setting

Excessive pestle pressure

Slow setting with shrinkage

Failure to condense towards margins

Marginal gaps

Using large condensers initially

Deficient margins and undercuts

Carving from amalgam to tooth

Marginal defects and gaps

Excess amalgam left beyond

cavosurface angles

Breaks away leaving deficient margins

POROUS AND WEAK AMALGAM

CAUSE

EFFECT

Increased 2 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

2 Phase , decreased 1 Phase phases)

Undertrituration

Porosities & voids

Trituration beyond limits

Decreased coherence (due to cracking of

crystals)

Delayed insertion after trituration

Insertion of too large increments

Porosities and voids

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 residual
ratio)
Hg)
Condensation of partially crystallized
amalgam

Porous amalgam

Condensing with serrated pluggers with Old amalgam contaminates restoration

set amalgam in the serrations
and weakens it
Overheating while polishing

'Burns' amalgam and releases Hg

resulting in porosity

Burnishing set amalgam

Breaks up superficial crystalline

structure releasing Hg causing porosity

TARNISH AND CORROSION

CAUSE

EFFECT

Alloy with excess 2 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

restoration

Galvanic corrosion

GINGIVITIS AND PERIODONTITIS

CAUSE

EFFECT

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 periodonitis

Lack of proximal contact

LACK OF FUNCTIONAL EFFICIENCY

CAUSE
Fissures carved too deep
Underfilling
Failure to carve

EFFECT
Reduced masticatory efficiency
Decreased masticatory efficiency (Tooth
anatomy not simulated).

PAIN AFTER PLACING RESTORATION

CAUSE

EFFECT

Failure to use liner and base

Thermal conduction

Overfilling

High point causing periodontitis

resulting in pain

Moisture contamination

Delayed expansion with pressure on

pulp

Increased Hg: alloy ratio

Mercuroscopic expansion with pressure

on pulp

Failure to squeeze out excess Hg

Inadequate condensation pressure

Mercuroscopic expansion (increased

residual Hg)

Cavity preparation without water

coolant

Pulpitis resulting in pain

Microscopic pulp exposure

TOOTH DISCOLOURATION
Sometimes excess Hg within the restoration may seep through the dentinal tubules,
discolour dentin and result in blackish or greyish staining of teeth. Since enamel is
semi-translucent, this discolouration is not inconspicuous.