Gallium restorative materials

Gallium restorative alloys have been developed as an alternative to amalgam. When placed, with meticulous attention to moisture control, small restorations perform reasonably well in short-term clinical trials. However, tarnish and corrosion are pronounced. Results with large restorations are not impressive. Sealing of restorations, before and after placement, with a hydrophobic resin sealant is mandatory to prevent excessive expansion, post-operative sensitivity and tooth fracture. While the profession requires a less technique-sensitive alternative to silver amalgam than resin composite, for difficult and larger posterior situations, gallium alloys in their present state of development do not provide the answer. In fact, the manufacturer of Galloy has voluntarily withdrawn the product from the market, pending reformulation and development of new delivery systems.