Long-term dissolution of mercury from a non-mercury-releasing amalgam

The hazards of mercury from dental amalgams have long been recognized. This study examined the mercury release from a "non-mercury-releasing" dental amalgam, Composil, over a 104-week period. Four cylindrical specimens were incubated in 10 ml of purified water at 37 degrees C. The incubate was changed at the end of each 24-hour period and assayed for its mercury content at biweekly intervals. Mercury estimation was carried out using cold-vapor, atomic absorption spectrophotometry over a 104-week period. Results showed that the overall mean release of mercury was 43.5 +/- 3.2 micrograms/cm2/24 hr, and the amount of mercury released remained fairly constant during the duration of the experiment. This study showed that Composil releases mercury in quantities that far exceed those detected in other amalgam systems.