Summer in Japan is the season of fireworks! Highlights of the fireworks shows throughout Japan. Ten fireworks shows that have distinguishing features such as a long history, a high level of craftsmanship, or being highly entertaining have been selected from representative fireworks shows throughout Japan and are introduced here.
Most people recognize dental amalgams as silver fillings. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Mercury, which makes up about 50 percent of the compound, is necessary to bind the metals together to provide a strong, hard, durable filling.
Studies have suggested that young children and pregnant women should avoid amalgam fillings. Photograph: Alamy Dental amalgam is used to repair cavities caused by tooth decay. It's not new. Dentists a century and a half ago were using it. About half of amalgam is made of mercury, the rest from other metals such as silver and tin. Dentists say it is the strongest, cheapest and longest-lasting filling in the business. The NHS won't pay for back teeth to be filled with anything else.