In vitro corrosion behavior and microstructure examination of a gallium-based restorative

Oper Dent. 1997 Sep-Oct;22(5):209-16.

Abstract

Concerns of mercury toxicity have led to the development of gallium-based restorative materials to replace dental amalgam. A new gallium-based dental restorative, Galloy, was compared with a high-copper amalgam, Permite, for anodic polarization behavior in deoxygenated Ringer's solution and by immersion testing in normal Ringer's solution at 37 degrees C. Corrosion products were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and transmission electron diffraction. The data from both sources were consistent with the presence of alpha-Ga2O3 and SnO2 as the primary corrosion products of Galloy. Anodic polarization behavior of Galloy- and Permite-coupled specimens suggests that coupling Galloy with the more noble Permite amalgam may cause accelerated electrochemical corrosion and that Galloy is more corrosion prone than Permite.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Corrosion
  • Dental Alloys / chemistry*
  • Dental Amalgam / chemistry
  • Dental Restoration, Permanent / methods
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electron Probe Microanalysis
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Gallium / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Oxides / analysis
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods
  • Tin Compounds / analysis
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Dental Alloys
  • Galloy
  • Oxides
  • Tin Compounds
  • Dental Amalgam
  • Permite C
  • Gallium