A modified amalgam composition forming an adhesive bond with tooth structure treated with a dental adhesive. The modified amalgam can be prepared by admixing particulate additives into conventional amalgam alloy powder to form a modified alloy powder and then triturating the modified alloy powder with mercury. The modified amalgam when applied to a prepared tooth cavity that has been precoated with an acrylate- or methacrylate-functional dental adhesive results in an adhesive bond between the modified amalgam and coated tooth structure. Preferred particulate additives for the amalgam alloy powder are acrylate- or methacrylate-functional polymers, metal salts of acrylates or methacrylates, nonmetallic fillers, oxidizing agents and reducing agents.
