Does amalgam have low or high edge strength?

• A. High
• B. Moderate
• C. Very high
• D. Low

Answer: (D)

Edge strength is about how well a material resists fracture at the margins of a restoration. Amalgam is relatively brittle and handles compressive forces well, but its tensile and flexural strengths are poor. When stresses reach the margins or when walls are thin, amalgam is more prone to cracking or marginal fracture. This makes edge strength low, which is why that option is correct. The other levels would imply much better resistance at the margins, which doesn't align with amalgam's brittle nature.