Which term describes the step of packing amalgam and removing excess mercury?

Which term describes the step of packing amalgam and removing excess mercury?

• A. Condensation
• B. Trituration
• C. Adhesion
• D. Corrosion

Answer: (A)

Condensation is the step where the freshly mixed amalgam is packed into the cavity prep using a condenser, and excess mercury is expressed out. This compacting process pushes the material into all the walls and angles of the tooth while removing extra mercury to create a dense, well-adapted restoration with proper contours and marginal seal. Trituration is the mixing of the alloy with mercury, not packing; adhesion is about the attraction between materials, and corrosion is chemical degradation—these describe different ideas, not the packing and excess mercury removal step.

Condensation is the step where the freshly mixed amalgam is packed into the cavity prep using a condenser, and excess mercury is expressed out. This compacting process pushes the material into all the walls and angles of the tooth while removing extra mercury to create a dense, well-adapted restoration with proper contours and marginal seal. Trituration is the mixing of the alloy with mercury, not packing; adhesion is about the attraction between materials, and corrosion is chemical degradation—these describe different ideas, not the packing and excess mercury removal step.