Dental
amalgam is a liquid
mercury and metal alloy mixture used to
fill cavities caused by tooth decay. Low-copper amalgam 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 1800s, amalgam became the dental restorative material of choice due to its low cost, ease of application, strength, and durability.