The war between amalgam and composite: A critical review

Abstract

Amalgam and composite are the two most famous dental restorative materials till date and the choice between them is still debatable. Amalgam restorations have served the profession well and will continue to do so in the years to come. In terms of longevity, amalgam is superior to composite resins, especially when used for large restorations. In case of small restorations, composite is the restoration of choice as minimum removal of the sound structure is required. Where esthetics is a major concern, composite has a way far than amalgam. Amalgam has served as a better core material and has superior mechanical properties than composite. Composite has an advantage of adhesion over amalgam. This review article compares amalgam and composite as a restorative material.