Chapter 10 Dental Amalgam
1. What are characteristics of amalgam that makes it superior to
any other restoration experience dental material?: Durability
Ease of handling
Low cost
Good physical characteristics
2. What is the main/most common component of amalgam?:
Silver
3. Define amalgamation: A reaction that occurs when silver based
alloy is mixed with mercury
4. Define alloy: The mixture of two or more metals
5. How are amalgams classified?: They are classified according to
the shape of the particles in the powder
6. What are the 3 shapes that can be found in an amalgam
powder?: Lathe-cut alloy
Spherical alloy
Admixed
7. How are lathe cut alloy made?: By shaving an ingot into fine
irregular particles with a lathe machine
8. How are spherical alloy particles made?: By spraying molten
alloy into a inert gas. The particles take on spherical shape as they
cool down. 9. What is the percentage of silver in amalgams?:
40%-70%
, 10. What is the percentage of tin in amalgams?: 12-30%
11. What is the percentage of copper in amalgams?: 13-30%
12. What is the percentage of mercury in amalgams?: 24%-52% by
weight
13. List all the components of amalgam: Silver Tin
Copper
Indium
Palladium
Zinc
Mercury
14. What is the purpose of copper in amalgam?: It lessens
brittleness
15. What is the purpose of zinc in amalgam?: Inhibits corrosion by
reducing oxidation of the other metals
16. The firming phase of amalgam takes how long?: Just several
minutes 17. After which phase of setting is amalgam NOT able
to be carved anymore?-
: After the initial set.
18. How long does it take for amalgam to fully set?: It takes
24 hours
19. What are the 3 setting/chemical reactions?: Gamma phase
Gamma-1 phase
Gamma-2 phase
1. What are characteristics of amalgam that makes it superior to
any other restoration experience dental material?: Durability
Ease of handling
Low cost
Good physical characteristics
2. What is the main/most common component of amalgam?:
Silver
3. Define amalgamation: A reaction that occurs when silver based
alloy is mixed with mercury
4. Define alloy: The mixture of two or more metals
5. How are amalgams classified?: They are classified according to
the shape of the particles in the powder
6. What are the 3 shapes that can be found in an amalgam
powder?: Lathe-cut alloy
Spherical alloy
Admixed
7. How are lathe cut alloy made?: By shaving an ingot into fine
irregular particles with a lathe machine
8. How are spherical alloy particles made?: By spraying molten
alloy into a inert gas. The particles take on spherical shape as they
cool down. 9. What is the percentage of silver in amalgams?:
40%-70%
, 10. What is the percentage of tin in amalgams?: 12-30%
11. What is the percentage of copper in amalgams?: 13-30%
12. What is the percentage of mercury in amalgams?: 24%-52% by
weight
13. List all the components of amalgam: Silver Tin
Copper
Indium
Palladium
Zinc
Mercury
14. What is the purpose of copper in amalgam?: It lessens
brittleness
15. What is the purpose of zinc in amalgam?: Inhibits corrosion by
reducing oxidation of the other metals
16. The firming phase of amalgam takes how long?: Just several
minutes 17. After which phase of setting is amalgam NOT able
to be carved anymore?-
: After the initial set.
18. How long does it take for amalgam to fully set?: It takes
24 hours
19. What are the 3 setting/chemical reactions?: Gamma phase
Gamma-1 phase
Gamma-2 phase
