Dental Alloys
message our expertsAlthough base metal alloys have been in use for dental alloys since the 1970s, gold (Au) was traditionally used for dental restoration because it is highly malleable and ductile making it easy to work with. Gold is a “noble” metal which makes it ideal for dental applications because, with the exception of silver (Ag), which tarnishes, noble metals resist tarnish and corrosion, whilst also being non-toxic and hypoallergenic. These qualities made gold a great fit for use in dental work — however for it to be truly useful, it must be alloyed with another metal, because it is too soft to be used in it’s pure form.
The quickest, non-destructive way to identify a dental alloy and ensure it is the proper material grade prior to insertion is with the Bruker S1 TITAN. The Bruker S1 TITAN can identify the composition of a dental alloy in a quick scan that takes less than 5 seconds.
Composition of Dental Alloys
While jewelry is typically hallmarked and made from fairly standardized alloys, the same is not true for dental alloys. There are approximately 1000 different dental alloys and they are not marked in any way to identify the precious metal content or composition. Some of the metals used in these alloys, like platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd), are noble metals. However, there are also metals like copper (Cu), iron (Fe), tin (Sn) and zinc (Zn), which are transition metals. Each of these metals contributes distinct qualities to individual dental fittings, which must withstand various stresses depending on their function.
Some of today’s dental customers specifically request (and pay for) alloys containing gold and other noble metals such as palladium, platinum, and silver but many modern dental fittings contain no noble metals at all. In other cases, only a trace amount of gold is added to an alloy to satisfy insurance regulations—not for its metallurgic qualities. In essence, paying more money for a dental alloy that contains precious metals may not necessarily mean you are getting what you pay for. Since there is no way to identify the material while it is still being used in your mouth, customers must wait until the dental fitting is removed or ready to be replaced before determining the exact composition.
Analyzing Dental Alloys
Traditional gold analysis methods such as the touchstone test have limitations, especially for dental alloys that often contain white metals. Modern dental alloy analysis relies on instruments such as the Bruker S1 TITAN or S1 SORTER, which uses X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for non-destructive and accurate results. XRF measures unique fluorescent signatures for each element. The Bruker S1 TITAN can quickly identify the composition of dental alloys, including precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and more. It's easy to use and generates reliable reports, helping users make informed decisions about alloy composition. The device is portable, lightweight, and offers fast and precise analysis.
Silver, which is part of amalgam fillings, has a significantly lower price per ounce than other noble metals. XRF analysis with the Bruker S1 TITAN allows the client to store these fittings separately so they can be refined in a cost-effective manner.
At 1.5 kilograms, the Bruker S1 TITAN is one of the lightest tube-based handheld XRF analyzers available, it is fully portable and providesexceptionally fast and accurate analysis with numerous applications, thanks to Bruker’s silicon drift detector (SDD) technology. The Bruker S1 TITAN also includes Bruker’s patent-pending SharpBeam™ technology to provide users with exceptional performance.
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