Dental amalgam is the traditional silver-coloured filling we are all familiar with. Although there is mercury in dental amalgam, once it is combined with the other materials in the amalgam filling its chemical nature is changed rendering it harmless. Research into the safety of dental amalgam has been carried out for over a century and to date no trustworthy controlled studies have found a connection between amalgam fillings and any medical problems.

White composite fillings are becoming more popular but amalgam fillings represent the most durable and long-lasting filling available with the exception of gold fillings which are considerably more expensive.