Dental amalgam

Dental amalgam is a type of dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. It has been used for more than 150 years in hundreds of millions of patients around the world.

Composition

Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately 50% of dental amalgam is elemental mercury by weight. The chemical properties of elemental mercury allow it to react with and bind together the silver/copper/tin alloy particles to form an amalgam.

Safety

The use of mercury in dental amalgam has raised safety concerns due to its potential toxicity. However, the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) all agree that based on extensive scientific evidence, dental amalgam is a safe and effective cavity-filling material.

Alternatives

There are other materials that can be used for dental fillings, such as composite resins, ceramics, and gold alloys. These materials are more expensive than dental amalgam and may require more time to place.

Environmental Impact

The use of dental amalgam has environmental implications due to the mercury it contains. Mercury in dental amalgam is a source of mercury pollution in water; it is released into the environment when old fillings are replaced and the amalgam is disposed of.

See Also

• Dental filling
• Tooth decay
• Mercury (element)
• American Dental Association
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• World Health Organization

Dental amalgam Resources
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