Mercury amalgams are alloys of mercury (a heavy metal that can produce severe organ damage) with other metals. They are used in dentistry as filling materials for treatment of dental caries. In some countries, dental mercury amalgams are classified as medicines and therefore subjected to rigorous regulations. In other countries (among them the United [Page 132]States), they are considered devices; therefore, they have not been submitted to the strict official government testing required for medicines.

Although mercury toxicity is well known, scientific studies on the potential health effects of mercury amalgams used in dentistry have come to opposite conclusions.