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Dental Alloys
message our expertsAlloy in Dentistry
Although 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, making it ideal for dental applications because noble metals, except for silver (Ag), resist tarnish and corrosion and are also non-toxic and hypoallergenic. These qualities made gold a great fit for use in dental work. However, for gold to be truly useful, it must be alloyed with another metal, because it is too soft to be used in its pure form.
The quickest, non-destructive way to identify a dental alloy and ensure it is the correct material grade prior to insertion is with the Bruker S1 TITAN. The Bruker S1 TITAN can identify the composition of a dental alloy via a quick scan that takes less than 5 seconds.
Types of Dental Alloy: Compositions
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, they can also contain transition metals such as:
copper (Cu)
iron (Fe)
tin (Sn)
zinc (Zn)
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.
Analyzing Dental Alloys
Traditional gold analysis methods such as the touchstone test have their limitations, especially for dental alloys that often contain white metals. Modern dental alloy analysis relies on instruments such as the Bruker S1 TITAN, 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. The instrument is 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 provides exceptionally fast and accurate analysis in numerous applications, thanks to Bruker’s silicon drift detector (SDD) technology. The Bruker S1 TITAN also includes Bruker’s patent-pending SharpBeam™ technology which provides users with exceptional performance.
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