title: A history of dental amalgam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Silver amalgam alloy has been used as a dental restorative material since the beginnings of restorative dentistry. It rose as an easily manipulated and low cost material in comparison to other restorative techniques of the time, but it had poor dimensional stability and clinical behavior. Successive research led to the standardization of both its composition and some aspects of its mechanical properties, which have contributed to its widespread acceptance. Nevertheless, the risk of environmental toxicity generated by mercury and its poor esthetics have given rise to the search for alternative and more promising materials. This article endeavors to give a brief historical description of the main events which have led to development of modern silver amalgam alloys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that extensive knowledge of the use of silver amalgam alloy has made it the most widely used restorative material for the posterior oral cavity. However, in recent years its preponderance has been brought into question even though some innovative ideas have been suggested which could help improve this material in the future.
authors.affiliation: University of the Basque Country, Faculty of Dentistry, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellacuria
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Triana
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guinea
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Osborne
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000266:history*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000266:history; D005060:Europe; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D012834:Silver / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D012834:Silver; D003723:Dental Amalgam