Amalgam is a commonly used dental restorative material.
Amalgam has been the restoration of choice for many years due to its low cost, ease of application, strength, durability, and bacteriostatic effects. Factors that have led to recent decline in use are a lingering concern about detrimental health effects, esthetics, and environmental pollution.
With regards to esthetics, the metallic colour does not blend very well with tooth structure and there are cosmetic concerns, especially when used on front teeth, which can be addressed using alternative dental materials, environmental concerns about mercury emissions from waste amalgam and cremation of deceased individuals.
Research into relatively new alternative materials which possess better aesthetic properties, and which attempt to bridge the gap of amalgams history of superior strength and longevity continues to decrease their viability.
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