An introduction to Dental Amalgam
Dental amalgam is produced by mixing liquid mercury with solid particles of an alloy of silver, tin, copper and sometimes zinc, palladium, indium and selenium.This combination of solid metals is known as the amalgam alloy. It is important to differentiate between dental amalgam and the amalgam alloy that is commercially produced and marketed as small filings, spheroid particles, or a combination of these, suitable for mixing with liquid mercury to produce the dental amalgam.
The freshly mixed mass of amalgam alloy and liquid mercury developed by the dentist has a plasticity that permits it to be conveniently packed or condensed into a prepared tooth cavity. A dental amalgam restoration results. Such amalgam restorations usually are limited to the replacement of tooth tissue in posterior teeth because their silvery gray metallic appearance. Dental amalgam restorations are reasonably easy to insert, are not overly technique-sensitive, maintain anatomic form, have reasonably adequate resistance to fracture, prevent marginal leakage after a period of time in the month, and have a relatively long service life.
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