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Amalgam filling on first molar. In dentistry, amalgam is an alloy of mercury used to fill teeth cavities. [1] It is made by mixing a combination of liquid mercury and particles of solid metals such as silver, copper or tin. The amalgam is mixed by the dentist just before use.
This discussion of the dental amalgam controversy outlines the debate over whether dental amalgam (the mercury alloy in dental fillings) should be used.Supporters claim that it is safe, effective and long-lasting, while critics argue that amalgam is unsafe because it may cause mercury poisoning and other toxicity.
Composites and amalgam are used mainly for direct restoration. Composites can be made of color matching the tooth, and the surface can be polished after the filling procedure has been completed. Amalgam fillings expand with age, possibly cracking the tooth and requiring repair and filling replacement, but chance of leakage of filling is less.
Amalgam is a metallic filling material composed from a mixture of mercury (from 43% to 54%) and a powdered alloy made mostly of silver, tin, zinc and copper, commonly called the amalgam alloy. [16] Amalgam does not adhere to tooth structure without the aid of cements or use of techniques which lock in the filling, using the same principles as a ...
Versatility: Composite fillings can be used to repair chipped, broken or worn teeth [18] which would not be repairable using amalgam fillings. Repairability: In many cases of minor damage to a composite filling, the damage can be easily repaired by adding additional composite. An amalgam filling might require complete replacement.
Auguste Taveau (Louis Augustin Onésiphore Taveau) was a French dentist born in Le Havre, the 28th of August 1792. [1] Date and place of his death are still unknown. In 1826, he was among the first to use amalgam as a dental restorative material, [2] although he had originally developed it as early as 1816.
An amalgam dental filling. Dentistry has used alloys of mercury with metals such as silver, copper, indium, tin and zinc. Amalgam is an "excellent and versatile restorative material" [9] and is used in dentistry because it is inexpensive and relatively easy to use and manipulate during placement. It remains soft for a short time so it can be ...
However, at that point the use of dental amalgam was declared to be malpractice, and the American Society of Dental Surgeons (ASDS), the only US dental association at the time, forced all of its members to sign a pledge to abstain from using the mercury fillings.[9] This was the beginning of what is known as the first dental amalgam war.[10]