Dental post-operative sensitivity associated with a gallium-based restorative material.
BACKGROUND
This study forms part of a 2-year longitudinal clinical trial to compare the performance of a gallium-based restorative material (Galloy) with a high copper, mercury based (Dispersalloy) control material.


METHODS
Following Ethical Committee approval, 25 galloy restorations and 25 Dispersalloy controls were placed in 14 adult patients, by a single operator. The cavities were of moderate size, indicating the use of amalgam as the restorative material. All restorations were polished within 1 week of placement, photographed and a silicone impression of the tooth and restoration recorded. In addition, a visual analogue scale (VAS), indicating the extent of any post-operative sensitivity, was completed by each patient for each restoration, immediately prior to polishing. A score of 0 indicated no sensitivity, while a score of 10 indicated the greatest possible sensitivity. At 6-month recall, the VAS scores, silicone impressions and photographs were repeated.


RESULTS
The mean sensitivity scores for the galloy and Dispersalloy restorations at 1 week were 5.1 (+/- 3.4) and 1.0 (+/- 1.5), respectively and at 6 months, 1.8 (+/- 3.0) and 0.2 (+/- 0.1) respectively. The differences between these means at 1 week and at 6 months were significant (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Galloy restorations were associated with a much greater severity of post-operative sensitivity than Dispersalloy restorations.
Dunne
S M
SM
Department of Conservative Dentistry, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London. s.dunne@kcl.ac.uk
Abraham
R
R
D000328:Adult; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005708:Gallium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000139:chemically induced
D003722:Dental Alloys; C100747:Galloy; C033470:Dispersalloy; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D005708:Gallium