Dental Amalgam is a rarely used in dentistry anymore. It is a mixture of mercury with at least one other metal.

Amalgam was used in dentistry for a number of reasons. It is relatively easy to use and manipulate during placement; it remains soft for a short time so it can be packed to fill any irregular volume, and then forms a hard compound. Recent improvements in composite material science and a better understanding of the technique-sensitivity of placement have increased the life expectancy of composite fillings.

In most circumstances composite (white fillings) serve better than amalgam.