Introduction This study forms part of a 2-year longitudinal clinical trial
to compare the performance of a gallium-based restorative material (Galloy)
with a high copper, mercury based (Dispersalloy) control material.
Method Following Ethical Committee approval, 25 galley restorations and 25
Dispersalloy controls were placed in 14 adult patients, by a single operato
r. The cavities were of moderate size, indicating the use of amalgam as the
restorative material. All restorations were polished within 1 week of plac
ement, photographed and a silicone impression of the tooth and restoration
recorded. In addition, a visual analogue scale (VAS), indicating the extent
of any post-operative sensitivity, was completed by each patient for each
restoration, immediately prior to polishing. A score of 0 indicated no sens
itivity, while a score of 10 indicated the greatest possible sensitivity. A
t B-month recall, the VAS scores, silicone impressions and photographs were
repeated.
Results The mean sensitivity scores for the galley and Dispersalloy restora
tions at 1 week were 5.1 (+/-3.4) and 1.0 (+/-1.5), respectively and at 6 m
onths, 1.8 (+/-3.0) and 0.2 (+/-0.1) respectively. The differences between
these means at 1 week and at 6 months were significant (P < 0.01).
Conclusion Galley restorations were associated with a much greater severity
of post-operative sensitivity than Dispersalloy restorations.