Abstract

PISTOIA, Alexandre Dorneles; PISTOIA, Gustavo Dorneles  and  MARTINS NETO, Marcos. Amalgam tattoo. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.61, suppl.1, pp. 435-439. ISSN 1981-8637.

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. In the 1800s, 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. The authors present a systematic review of the literature regarding the effects of silver amalgam when deposited in the oral tissues. Clinical, radiographic and histo-pathological aspects are discussed considering the contribution of different researchers to the debate over the possible effects to the tissues in contact with this material.

Keywords : Dental amalgam.; Histocompatibility.; Materials testing..