In recent years, the use of dental amalgam has been a controversial issue. Dental amalgam has been introduced in restoration of teeth for more than 175 years, but it has been argued that even a tiny amount of mercury may affect human health. Amalgam has been therefore out of fashion among the choices of dentists and patients. However, if we use dental amalgam properly, it can strengthen posterior tooth intensity.With the knowledge of the characteristics of mercury, we can use it safely and recycle it. And then, we can save the environment while ensuring dental health for patients. Reviewing related literature, we attempted to, in this article, understand more about dental amalgam and relinquish the controversy over its use.(J. Family Dent. 6(2): 26-35, 2011)