Amalgam
Pronunciation: uh-MAL-gum
A dental restorative material composed of a mercury-alloy mixture, historically the standard material for posterior tooth fillings.
Full Definition
Dental amalgam is a restorative material made by combining liquid mercury with a powdered alloy of silver, tin, copper, and sometimes zinc. It is noted for its durability and is predominantly used in posterior (back tooth) restorations. In editorial contexts, 'amalgam' should not be conflated with 'composite', which is a tooth-coloured resin alternative. Amalgam is always lowercase unless it begins a sentence. Editors should be alert to the common error of treating 'amalgam' and 'filling' as exact synonyms, since 'filling' also encompasses composite and glass ionomer restorations; 'amalgam restoration' is more precise in clinical documents.
Usage
Usage note: Lowercase in all contexts. Distinguish from 'composite' and from the generic term 'filling', which may refer to multiple material types.
In Context
- "The treatment summary incorrectly described all posterior fillings as amalgam; two were composite restorations." — Clinical documentation review
- "Insurance benefit documents should specify whether the plan covers composite at amalgam benefit rates for posterior teeth." — Dental benefit plan summary