[Amalgam as the measure in filling therapy. A determination of its place]

As the value of amalgam restorations is increasingly being questioned in modern dentistry, the clinical potential of amalgam restorations in general has been evaluated in this literature review. The major factors limiting the longevity of amalgam restorations are operator- and patient-related. Both factors will likewise influence the longevity of any new restorative concepts. Nevertheless, amalgam restorations remain the standard against which alternative materials are evaluated. Amalgam restorations are slowly loosing ground to the use of tooth-colored materials, which are gaining in popularity. However, amalgam can not currently be withdrawn from the list of possible restorative materials used for patients in Switzerland.