Amalgam Specimen Technic

I. Studies on Comparable Specimens Controlled by Complexometric Titration of Mercury Content

¹ Institutes of Pedodontics, Analytical Chemistry, and Prosthetic Dentistry, University of Lund, Sweden

The present investigation was performed in an attempt to develop an amalgam specimen preparation technic providing a high reproducibility both with regard to the content and distribution of mercury. The aim was also to present a new method for the mercury analysis of dental amalgam.

The condensation procedure is achieved with a machine specifically constructed for the purpose. This machine permits an increasing application of static load with the specimen mold rotating in a horizontal position. A high degree of standardization was demonstrated, with series 10 indicating the precision of the technic.

The method for the determination of mercury is based on complexometric titration (EDTA-titration). The error inherent in the method, expressed as the standard deviation of the true value (= mean value of 10 analyses) when the analysis of the single specimen is performed as a double test, was 0.11 percent absolute mercury amount.