Shear bond strength of amalgam and gallium alloys to dentine.

Abstract

The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to determine the shear bond strength of admixed (Dispersalloy), irregular (Oralloy) and spherical (Lojic) amalgams, as well as an admixed gallium alloy (Galloy) to superficial, buccal, human dentine surfaces, using the Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus system. The bonds were stressed to failure in an Instron testing machine after 48 hours, and the following values (MPa) were obtained: Admixed = 7.74 +/- 0.7; Irregular = 9.47 +/- 1.4; Spherical = 9.82 +/- 2.4; Galloy = 11.03 +/- 2.5. Data were statistically analysed and fracture sites examined in a scanning electron microscope. Galloy demonstrated a statistical significant higher shear bond strength than to the other types of amalgams (p < 0.01).