Mercury is a unique and important element that has been used by humans since ancient times. Over the years, several combinations with mercury have been found for various uses such as: measuring devices, batteries and fluorescent lamps, medicines, as well as one of the most important uses of dental amalgams. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental amalgam is a durable metal alloy composed of 50% mercury, 35% silver, 9% tin, and 6% copper and traces of zinc. The compound turns into a hard, stable substance. As the ADA states, “Dental amalgam…has been used to safely restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans.” However, there have been growing concerns and recent debate over whether dental amalgam poses a health and environmental hazard. The outcry dates back to the 1830s in France. According to John E. Dodes, DDS, this period was known as the Amalgam Wars because half of dentists preferred to use amalgam while other dentists considered the use of amalgam malpractice. . There were many rumors circulating about dental amalgams. Some dentists wanted dental amalgam banned and therefore spread false rumors about the poor quality of dental amalgam. For many years, numerous case studies and scientific analyzes have been carried out to determine whether or not these accusations were true. I will discuss why I believe dentists should continue to use amalgam and why it is not toxic to us. While many dentists support the use of amalgam in dental care, others are skeptical about the use of amalgam because they believe that dental amalgam is linked to several bodily disorders and dysfunctions. Several case studies have been carried out and have proven that amalgam fillings are linked to health problems. In...... middle of paper ......Search completed. EBSCO. Internet. February 8, 2011.EC “DENTAL DAMAGE”. E - The Environmental Magazine 17.3 (2006): 25. Points of view Reference center. EBSCO. Internet. February 9, 2011. Feuer, George and H. Stephen Injeyan. “The dental amalgam controversy: a review.” Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 40.3 (1996): 169. Academic research completed.EBSCO. Internet. February 8, 2011. Hinely, Paula. "Amalgam fillings are safe, but skeptics still claim controversy, researcher says." Medical News Today: Health News. April 5, 2009. The web. February 8, 2011. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144984.phpScarmoutzos, Louis and Boyd, Owen. “Environmental and toxicological concerns related to dental amalgam and mercury. » MVS Solutions Journal. (2003): 1-42.Tyas MJ. “Dental amalgam: what are the alternatives? International Dental Journal. august 1994; 44(4):303–308.