Abstract

VEGA DEL BARRIO, José Mª. Heterogeneity in dental precious alloys from patients after long use: Analysis by X-ray energy scattering spectrophotometry. RCOE [online]. 2003, vol.8, n.1, pp.27-38. ISSN 1138-123X.

Some precious alloys with many years of use in the mouth of several patients, taken at random, were analysed. Their compositions, obtained by X-ray energy scattering spectrophotometry, are shown. We have found many and important differences among these compositions, consisting in different percentages of their components and in the fact that some metallic elements turned out to be very heterogeneous from the original alloy. The origin of these differences can be very diverse. Therefore, the recycling process of precious alloys for dental use must be made through very accurate, precise and normalised proceedings.

Keywords : Old dental precious alloys; Heterogeneous compositions; Recycling.