Mechanical properties and clinical performance of a gallium restorative material.

In a combination clinical/laboratory evaluation, a gallium restorative alloy (Galloy) was assessed for six mechanical properties: compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, creep, hardness, wear, and dimensional change. Laboratory tests indicated that the gallium alloy was similar to either Tytin or Dispersalloy in most respects, with the exception of lower wear and higher 7-day diametral tensile strength. In the clinical trial, all Galloy restorations were lined with a resin to prevent moisture contacting the material during the first hours after placement. All gallium restorations--class 1's only--were intact, and no teeth were fractured at the end of 1 year. There was little difference found at the 1-year evaluation compared to the 6-month results. The surface of the gallium alloy was generally rough, and many restorations exhibited some tarnish on the surface. It should be pointed out that this product has not been FDA approved at the present time and is not on the market.