Which item is used to hold amalgam during placement?

• A. Amalgam well
• B. Amalgam carver
• C. Celluloid strip
• D. Mandrel and pop on sandpaper disc

Answer: (A)

In amalgam restorations, you need a small receptacle to hold the freshly mixed material so you can transfer it to the cavity in controlled amounts. The amalgam well is exactly for that purpose: a metal cup that holds the amalgam during placement, so you can scoop it up with a condenser and place it incrementally to fill the preparation. This helps prevent loss of material, keeps the working area organized, and reduces the chance of contamination while you condense. The other items serve different roles—an amalgam carver shapes and trims after placement, a celluloid strip acts as a matrix for shaping or isolating areas, and a mandrel with a pop-on disc is used for holding and finishing/polishing discs, not for holding amalgam.