ABSTRACT
Aim of the study was to assess the fracture resistance of bonded and non bonded amalgam filling. Amalgam is the material of choice for posterior restorations because of its strength, longevity as compared to other materials. In spite of all these advantages of being cost effective, ease of manipula-tion, its inability to bond to tooth structure is a major problem. This makes an amalgam restoration to undergo micro leakage and subsequently secondary caries, marginal ditching and failure of resto-ration occurs. Scientific research has concluded that marginal breakdown is the factor which leads ultimately to the fracture of entire restoration. To improve the mechanical retention and ultimately the marginal breakdown and fracture resistance a new bonding amalgam has been introduced. The bonded amalgam needs to be evaluated and compared with conventional amalgam in respect of marginal integrity. It was concluded that there was no difference in marginal break down of conventional and bonded amalgam fillings and it was suggested that their use in traditional amalgam cavity preparations should not be recommended until proven clinical benefits have been demonstrated