American Elements produces several metals, alloys and chemicals for the dental profession and dental materials manufacturers used to produce dental implants and ceramic composites. We developed in cooperation with the DenMat Corporation a unique and now ubiquitous dense fluoride powder which allows the new ceramic composites replacing metallic amalgams to be visible on X-ray.

Innovation Case Study #5: American Elements Invents Additive for X-Ray Imaging of Dental Amalgams

#5: American Elements Invents Additive for X-Ray Imaging of Dental Amalgams

The Challenge

A visit to the dentist typically includes a dental X-ray. The X-ray allows the dentist to diagnose cavities and study the integrity of existing fillings. When the dental industry moved from metallic to ceramic amalgams two decades ago, patients loved the white material that mimicked the look of natural enamel, but dentists could no longer see the fillings on an X-ray.

The Innovation

American Elements worked on this problem with DenMat, a highly respected manufacturer of professional dental products. Since the material is a ceramic, metallic materials were not an option. American Elements reached to extremely dense fluorides for a solution. American Elements proposed a high purity form of ytterbium fluoride as an additive to the ceramic. Ytterbium fluoride is an extremely heavy dense material that would mimic a metallic on X-ray.

The Result

Today dental patients can have the natural look of ceramic amalgams and dentists can see the filling on X-ray due to ytterbium fluoride containing amalgams. The approach is now a standard in the dental industry.
Below is merely a selection of the full catalog of Dentistry products that American Elements manufactures. If you do not see a material you're looking for listed, please search the website or contact customerservice@americanelements.com.

Selected Products Supplied to the Dentistry Industry

40% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Nanoparticles / Nanopowder Aluminum Fluoride, Anhydrous Aluminum Oxide Aluminum Oxide Paste
Aluminum Phosphate Aluminum Phosphate Sputtering Target Barium Oxide Barium Sulfate
Bismuth Oxide Bismuth Subcarbonate Calcia Stabilized Zirconia Calcia Stabilized Zirconia Sputtering Target
Calcium Alginate Calcium Fluoride Calcium Hydroxide Calcium Sulfate
Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate Calcium Sulfate Nanoparticles / Nanopowder Calcium Tungstate Calcium Tungstate Sputtering Target
Cobalt Chromium Alloy Cobalt Chromium Molybdenum Alloy Cobalt Chromium Molybdenum Alloy Sputtering Target Cobalt Chromium Molybdenum Powder
Cobalt Chromium Powder Cobalt Chromium Transition Metals Alloy Powder Cobalt Nickel Chromium Iron Molybdenum Titanium Alloy Cobalt Nickel Chromium Iron Molybdenum Tungsten Titanium Alloy
Cobalt Nickel Chromium Molybdenum Alloy Copper Aluminum Nickel Alloy Copper Zinc Aluminum Nickel Alloy Copper Zinc Silver Alloy
Gold Foil Gold Nickel Palladium Alloy Gold Palladium Alloy Gold Palladium Foil
Gold Platinum Palladium Powder Gold Platinum Palladium Silver Indium Alloy Particles Gold Platinum Palladium Silver Indium Alloy Powder Gold Silver Copper Alloy Particles
Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticle Dispersion Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles / Nanopowder Hydroxyapatite Sputtering Target Iron Chromite
Iron Chromium Nickel Copper Niobium Alloy Iron(III) Oxide Iron(III) Oxide Monohydrate, Yellow Iron(III) Oxide Powder
Lanthanum Oxide Lithium Oxide Magnesia Stabilized Zirconia Powder Mercury Liquid
Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Nickel Platinum Alloy Nickel Titanium Alloy Nickel Titanium Powder
Niobium-Titanium Alloy Nitinol Phosphor Bronze Phosphor Bronze Powder
Platinum Iridium Alloy Platinum Iridium Alloy Sputtering Target Platinum Iridium Powder Platinum Palladium Gold Alloy
Platinum Palladium Gold Powder Potassium Dioxide Potassium Hexafluorotitanate(IV) Potassium Oxide
Silica Silica doped Zirconia Silicon Dioxide Powder Silver Coated Copper Powder
Silver Palladium Alloy Silver Titanium Alloy Silver Titanium Alloy Sputtering Target Sodium Fluoride
Sodium Fluoride Sputtering Target Sodium Perborate Monohydrate Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate Sodium Phosphate
Sodium Phosphate Sputtering Target Sodium Sulfate Anhydrous Sodium Tetraborate, Anhydrous Strontium Oxide
Titanium - Commercially Pure (CP) Titanium Aluminum Niobium Alloy Titanium Aluminum Niobium Powder Titanium Aluminum Vanadium Alloy
Titanium Aluminum Vanadium Powder Titanium Based Aluminum Iron Alloy Titanium Based Aluminum Molybdenum Zirconium Alloy Titanium Based Molybdenum Niobium Alloy
Titanium Based Molybdenum Zirconium Iron Alloy Titanium based Niobium Zirconium Alloy Titanium based Niobium Zirconium Tantalum Alloy Titanium Foam
Titanium Gauze Titanium Mesh Titanium Molybdenum Alloy Titanium Niobium Alloy
Titanium Platinum Alloy Titanium Platinum Alloy Sputtering Target Titanium Platinum Powder Titanium(IV) Oxide
Titanium(IV) Oxide Powder Titanium-based Molybdenum Zirconium Tin Alloy Ytterbium Oxide Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (12 Mol. %)
Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (5 Mol. %) Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (6 Mol. %) Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Grinding Beads Yttrium Stabilized Zirconia Granule
Zinc Oxide Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Dispersion Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles / Nanopowder Zinc Oxide Powder
Zinc Phosphate Dihydrate Zinc Stearate Zirconium Fluoride Zirconium Fluoride Sputtering Target
Zirconium Methacrylate Zirconium Oxide Zirconium Oxide Paste Zirconium Oxide Powder
Zirconium Titanium Alloy Zirconium(IV) Oxide, Yttria stabilized Submicron Powder