Mercury-based Amalgams vs. Mercury-free Amalgams Quiz

What is the primary component of silver amalgams?

Tin
Silver
Copper
Mercury (correct)

What is the purpose of replacing mercury with gallium in amalgams?

To increase the melting point
To improve the corrosion resistance
To prevent the release of mercury (correct)
To increase the vapor pressure

What is the word 'amalgam' derived from?

Arabic and Greek (correct)
Latin
German
Greek

Which of the following is NOT a component of modern high-copper amalgams?

Aluminum (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with low-copper amalgams?

They release mercury during corrosion (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of gallium over mercury in amalgams?

Both b and c (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which group of people shall not have dental amalgam used in their treatment, according to the text?

Deciduous teeth, children under 15, and pregnant or breastfeeding women (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the European Parliament's decision regarding the production and export of dental amalgam from the European Union (EU), effective 1 January 2025?

To ban the production and export of dental amalgam (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which measure aims to promote the use of cost-effective and clinically effective mercury-free alternatives for dental restoration?

Promoting the use of cost-effective and clinically effective mercury-free alternatives for dental restoration (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which measure aims to encourage insurance policies and programs that favor the use of quality alternatives to dental amalgam for dental restoration?

Encouraging insurance policies and programs that favor the use of quality alternatives to dental amalgam for dental restoration (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which measure aims to promote research and development of quality mercury-free materials for dental restoration?

Promoting research and development of quality mercury-free materials for dental restoration (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which measure aims to restrict the use of dental amalgam to its encapsulated form?

Restricting the use of dental amalgam to its encapsulated form (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor in determining the biocompatibility of dental amalgam?

The type of amalgam and its composition (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about high-copper amalgams is true?

They cause severe reactions when in direct contact with tissue (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of free or unreacted mercury from amalgam on cells in culture?

It is toxic to cells (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the addition of copper affect the cytotoxicity of dental amalgams?

It increases the cytotoxicity (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which phase of dental amalgam is NOT effectively phagocytized (engulfed) by macrophages?

The $\gamma_2$ phase (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does dental amalgam typically affect the pulp in shallow or lined cavities?

The response of the pulp is minimal (D) Signup and view all the answers

What has been the most important restorative material in the history of dentistry?

Silver amalgam (D) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, what can be concluded about the impact of mercury from dental amalgam restorations on immune functions in humans?

There is conclusive evidence that mercury from amalgam fillings does not impact immune functions in humans. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How long has silver amalgam been widely used as a restorative material?

Almost two centuries (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did Ritchie et al. (2002) find when comparing dentists to control subjects regarding health and cognitive functioning?

Health and cognitive functioning were similar between dentists and control subjects. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did Jones (1999) report regarding the link between irreversible neurological disorders or impaired kidney function and mercury vapor from dental amalgam restorations?

There is no link between irreversible neurological disorders or impaired kidney function and mercury vapor from dental amalgam restorations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the population in England and Wales (those age 18 and over) had amalgam fillings placed in the early 1990s?

50% (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between mercury-based amalgams and mercury-free amalgams?

Mercury-based amalgams contain mercury, while mercury-free amalgams do not. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did animal experiments fail to establish in relation to human exposure to mercury from dental amalgam restorations?

A direct cause-and-effect link between mercury exposure and neurological disorders in humans. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main topic of the text?

The toxicity and safety of dental amalgam (A) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, what can be inferred about the risk of adverse neurobehavioral effects posed by low concentrations of mercury released from dental amalgam fillings to the general population?

There is no risk of adverse neurobehavioral effects posed by low concentrations of mercury released from dental amalgam fillings. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did a group investigating the associations between Hg and symptoms, mood, motor function, and nonspecific cognitive alterations find among an occupationally exposed group to Hg compared to the general US population?

There were no differences in symptoms between the occupationally exposed group and the general US population. (D) Signup and view all the answers