HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF GALLIUM ALLOY FOR DENTAL RESTORATION

The handling characteristics of a gallium alloy (Gallium Alloy GF) wer e compared to those of a spherical high-copper amalgam (Tytin). Ten de ntists each restored four identical MO preparations in acrylic typodon t teeth (no. 30), two with amalgam and two with gallium alloy. Each re storation was evaluated immediately following completion by the operat or for six clinically relevant criteria. Each criterion was scored bet ween 1 and 5, where 1 = very poor, 2 = poor, 3 = fair, 4 = good, and 5 = very good. Three two-sided Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the median scores for significant differences (P < 0.05). The first te st indicated no significant difference between scores for the first- a nd second-placed restorations, within criteria and within alloy type ( n = 10). The second test indicated a significant difference between am algam and gallium alloy, within criteria and within restoration sequen ce (n = 10), for each criterion except resistance to fracture during r emoval of the matrix band. The third test indicated a significant diff erence between amalgam and gallium alloy, within each criteria, combin ing scores for first- and second-placed restorations (n = 20). During simulated clinical placement amalgam was rated significantly higher th an gallium alloy in each handling characteristic evaluated.