title: Alternatives to amalgam.
abstract: The use of amalgam as a restorative material is again under review following a decision by the German and Swedish Governments to limit its use. This paper reviews the use of direct and indirect composite resins, ceramics, and glass ionomer cements as options to amalgam as a restorative material. None of these restorative materials offers the case of use, technique-forgiveness, cost-effectiveness and, in many situations, the durability of amalgam. Further development of these materials and the techniques involved in their use are required before any can be considered an ideal alternative to amalgam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics; D003188:Composite Resins; D003442:Crowns; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006801:Humans; D007284:Inlays
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D003723:Dental Amalgam