title: Creep versus marginal fracture of amalgam restorations.
abstract: In the literature there is controversy over the existence of a correlation between creep and marginal deterioration of amalgam restorations. It was the aim of this study to re-investigate this correlation. In five clinical trials, 2068 amalgam restorations were made of six conventional alloys and ten high copper systems. The results show a correlation between creep and marginal fracture in the conventional, low copper amalgams. No correlation could be found for the group of high copper, non-gamma-2, amalgams. It is emphasized that dental practitioners should not buy their amalgam alloy on the basis of creep data, because wrong decisions might be taken. Evidence from a controlled clinical study is a more reliable criterion.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vrijhoef
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Letzel
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003300:Copper; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D006801:Humans; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D003723:Dental Amalgam