The need for biological evaluation of dental materials.

The primary purpose of using dental materials is to restore dental and oral tissues to a healthy condition and optimal function and one must, therefore, consider equally with potential harm, the many health benefits which new materials can provide. More than 50 years ago, the first specification of the organization American Dental Association for the physical properties of amalgam was established. It may, therefore, be considered astonishing that not until now is a system for biological evaluation being introduced.