Dental amalgam used by the dentist as a restorative material should meet the following criteria: (1) a reduced risk of marginal failure with a minimal risk of recurrent caries, (2) resistance to creep and corrosion, and (3) the characteristics for mixing, inserting, and polishing that are optimally duplicated. To achieve these criteria, the optimal amalgam technique includes the use of the following: Rubber dam whenever possible Conservative cavity preparations to offset the amalgam's inherent weak physical properties A high copper alloy combined with the appropriate amount of mercury for optimal plasticity and to reduce susceptibility to creep and corrosion Trituration, precondensation, and condensation methods that are consistently practiced by the dental assistant and dentist A burnishing scheme combined with a subsequent polishing method to complete the final amalgam restoration.