Related Experiment Videos
Dental post-operative sensitivity associated with a gallium-based restorative material
1Department of Conservative Dentistry, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London. s.dunne@kcl.ac.uk
British Dental Journal
|November 4, 2000
Summary
Galloy, a new dental restorative material, showed significantly higher post-operative sensitivity compared to the traditional Dispersalloy amalgam. Patients experienced more discomfort with Galloy restorations in this clinical trial.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Clinical Dentistry
- Restorative Dentistry
Background:
- A 2-year longitudinal clinical trial evaluated Galloy, a gallium-based dental restorative material.
- It was compared against Dispersalloy, a high-copper, mercury-based amalgam control material.
- This study focused on post-operative sensitivity as a key performance indicator.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical performance of Galloy versus Dispersalloy.
- Specifically, to assess and quantify post-operative sensitivity associated with each material.
- To evaluate changes in sensitivity over a 6-month period.
Main Methods:
- 14 adult patients received 25 Galloy and 25 Dispersalloy restorations of moderate size.
- Post-operative sensitivity was measured using a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) immediately before polishing.
- VAS scores, silicone impressions, and photographs were recorded at 1 week and 6 months post-placement.
Main Results:
- Mean sensitivity scores for Galloy were 5.1 (1 week) and 1.8 (6 months).
- Mean sensitivity scores for Dispersalloy were 1.0 (1 week) and 0.2 (6 months).
- The significant differences (P < 0.01) in sensitivity between the two materials were observed at both time points.
Conclusions:
- Galloy restorations were associated with significantly greater post-operative sensitivity.
- Dispersalloy demonstrated a lower level of patient-reported post-operative sensitivity.
- These findings suggest potential drawbacks of Galloy regarding patient comfort.