title: Retention of pins in amalgam.
abstract: The Max 021 titanium alloy self-threading retentive pin was evaluated for retention in amalgam and compared to the Link Plus titanium alloy self-threading pin. Fifteen specimens in which amalgam was condensed around the retentive pins were prepared. The specimens were mounted in a specially constructed test apparatus in an Instron Testing Machine and placed under a continuous tensile force (1 mm/min) until failure occurred. The mean force required to induce failure in the Max pin specimens was 87.6 (+/- 37.4) Newtons while the mean for the Link Plus pins was 180.4 (+/- 39.8) Newtons. The failure of the specimens using the Max pins was primarily a result of fracture of the amalgam with removal of the pin intact. The failure site of the Link Plus pin was primarily fracture of the pin itself. Statistically, a significantly greater force was required to induce failure in the Link Plus pins.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cooley
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Earnest
mesh_terms: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003772:Dental Pins; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D014025:Titanium