Dental amalgam is the oldest and the most useful filling material.
To date, extensive research has failed to establish any links between amalgam use and general ill health. Most dentists are continuing to use amalgam for cavities where a very durable material is needed - especially in the chewing surfaces of posterior teeth. In many respects amalgam is an ideal filling material. As well as being very durable, it expands and contracts with temperature change at the same rate as the surrounding natural tooth. Like most biomaterials, dental amalgam is not inert.