Pulpal response to dental amalgams

The pulpal reactions to amalgams with relatively high Cu content were compared with a conventional amalgam placed in unlined cavities prepared in intact monkey teeth. After a 1-week observation period the pulpal responses from one of the Cu-containing amalgams and the conventional amalgam were of the same magnitude, whereas the two other amalgams gave more pronounced reactions. After observation periods of 1 and 2 months only one of the amalgams with high Cu content caused more pronounced reactions than the conventional amalgam.