Amalgam Fillings

Dental amalgam is a commonly used dental filling that has been used for over 150 years. It is a mixture of mercury with at least one other metal. Amalgam has many advantages over other restorative materials, such as low cost, strength, durability, and bacteriostatic effects.

Amalgam is used in dentistry for several reasons. It is relatively easy to use and manipulate during placement; it remains soft for a short time so it can be packed to fill any irregular volume, and then form a hard compound. Amalgam possesses greater longevity than other restorative materials, such as composite. On average, most amalgam restorations serve for 10 to 12 years, whereas resin-based composites serve for about half that time.

However, with recent improvements in composite material science and a better understanding of placement techniques, it should be noted that this difference is decreasing.

There are certain situations in which it is more appropriate to use composite (white fillings) instead of amalgam. For instance, composite is recommended when amalgam is not necessary, or when a less invasive preparation would be beneficial. These situations would also include small occlusal restorations, where using amalgam would require the removal of a significant amount of healthy tooth structure. Moreover, composite is the material of choice for "enamel sites beyond the height of contour."

The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that both amalgam and composite materials are considered safe and effective for tooth restoration.