Dental Amalgam (Noun)
Meaning
An alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth; except for iron and platinum all metals dissolve in mercury and chemists refer to the resulting mercury mixtures as amalgams.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The dentist decided to use a dental amalgam to fill the patient's cavity, due to its durability and cost-effectiveness.
- Although dental amalgam is no longer used in some countries due to mercury concerns, it remains a widely accepted treatment in others.
- A dentist mixed a dental amalgam on a marble surface before using it to fill the tooth cavity.
- New dentists learn to prepare dental amalgam safely to minimize the risks of mercury exposure during treatment.
- Many older people have fillings made from dental amalgam in their teeth, as this material was once commonly used in dental practices.