The High-copper Dental Amalgam Alloys

For many years, the amalgamation of silver with mercury to produce a condensable mixture which could be used to restore carious defects in teeth followed a tortuous path of negative results. However, at the turn of the century, amalgam alloys having acceptable characteristics for successful clinical use emerged. From that point on, silver amalgam was widely accepted as the material of choice for low-cost, easily placed, and durable restorations. About 60 years later, a major discovery occurred that resulted in a most significant improvement in the clinical performance of this material. The key to this improvement was an increase in the Cu content of the amalgam alloy which previously had been considered to be inappropriate. This paper describes the history of this discovery, which produced what has come to be known as high-copper dental amalgam alloys.