Dental Amalgams

[golddie]

I have never seen dental amalgams.
How does it test with the acids and how do they look

 

[Harold_V]

I have never seen dental amalgams.
How does it test with the acids and how do they look

Dental amalgam is the silver filling you see in teeth that have been repaired by dentists. They tend to appear a shiny silver color, but may also be discolored. It would be unusual to see silver amalgam except for filling holes within a tooth. Teeth that have a silver outline are likely not silver amalgam.

You aren't likely to encounter this material unless you deal with a dentist. If you do, you'll know it by it's shape, color and smell.

Be careful when dealing with gold capped teeth. It's not uncommon to find silver amalgam under gold crowns. If you melt them without breaking them up (use a hammer), you may be evaporating mercury, which may be breathed unknowingly.

I never tested amalgam, but I expect that it can be tested with schwerter's solution with success.

Harold

 

[golddie]

Hi Harold
Thanks very much for your reply