General Knowledge - General Science - Discussion

Mercury is a liquid at a rtp (room temperature and pressure).

Mercury is very poisonous. Why it is used in filling cavities of teeth?

Due to mercury have high density. So mercury is one of the metals knows as amalgams.

Is there any other use of amalgams instead of filling?

If one metal is mercury in alloy then its called amalgams. So mercury is the correct answer.

How mercury is a liquid metal?

All kind of transition metals form amalgams with mercury.

Because mercury is in liquid form.

Amalgam is an alloy of silver and mercury that is why it is.

In dentistry, amalgam is an alloy of mercury with various metals used for dental fillings. It commonly consists of mercury (50%), silver (~22-32% ), tin (~14%), copper (~8%), and other trace metals.Dental amalgams were first documented in a Tang Dynasty medical text written by Su Kung in 659, and appeared in Germany in 1528. In the 1800 s, amalgam became the dental restorative material of choice due to its low cost, ease of application, strength, and durability.

Recently however, its popularity has diminished somewhat. Concern for aesthetics, environmental pollution, health, and the availability of improved, reliable, composite materials have all contributed. In particular, concerns about the toxicity of mercury have made its use increasingly controversial. Due to a plan to phase out the use of mercury, Sweden, Norway and Denmark deliberated in 2008 on a ban of mercury dental amalgam, substituting it with composite fillings. Dentists in Denmark are no longer allowed to use mercury in fillings since April 1, 2008. The Swedish amalgam ban is for both environmental and health issues, according to the Swedish authorities.