Insurance Carriers Have Seen a Reduction in the Use of Dental

Insurance carriers have seen a reduction in the use of dental amalgam for posterior restorations by approximately 40% in the past 15 years, probably because:

A) other direct restorative materials have superior durability, ease of handling, and physical characteristics
B) its wear resistance and compressive strength are inferior to composite resin and glass ionomer cement
C) a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1991-1993 concluded that amalgam is not safe for human use
D) concerns by patients about its safety and its lack of esthetics have prompted many patients to request tooth-colored materials