---
title: "What Is Dental amalgam (silver filling)? Dental Glossary"
description: "Dental amalgam is a silver-colored filling material made by mixing liquid mercury with a powder of silver, tin, and copper, used to fill cavities."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-amalgam-silver-filling
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Materials

# Dental amalgam (silver filling)

Dental amalgam is a silver-colored filling material made by mixing liquid mercury with a powder of silver, tin, and copper, used to fill cavities.

Amalgam has been used to fill cavities for well over a century. The dentist removes the decay, shapes the space, and packs in the soft mixture, which then hardens. The FDA says dental amalgam is a mixture of metals consisting of liquid mercury and a powdered alloy of silver, tin, and copper. Newer tooth-colored materials such as [composite resin](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/composite-resin) are now used more often. The FDA also says that removing intact amalgam fillings causes unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure. If you have a health concern, talk with your dentist and your physician. See [dental filling](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-filling) and our [fillings page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dental-fillings).

[Town Center Dental can helpDental Fillings](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dental-fillings)

## Related terms

-   [Dental filling](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-filling)
-   [Composite resin](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/composite-resin)
-   [Glass ionomer](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/glass-ionomer)
-   [Gold alloy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gold-alloy)
-   [Cavity (dental caries)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cavity-dental-caries)

## Sources

1.  [FDA: Dental Amalgam Fillings](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/dental-devices/dental-amalgam-fillings)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)