Final answer:
An amalgamator is a device used to grind dental materials into a fine powder, particularly for mixing dental amalgam used in fillings. Molars in the human mouth also crush and grind food in a comparable manner to this device. Option 1 is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The device used to triturate dental materials, which means to grind or crush them into a fine powder, is an amalgamator.
This equipment is used particularly to mix dental amalgam, which is used for filling cavities. Dental amalgam is an alloy, a solid solution that often contains around 50% mercury and 50% of a powder comprising metals like silver, tin, and copper, with trace amounts of zinc and other metals.
Molars, which are broad and flat-topped teeth in the back of the mouth, naturally perform the function of crushing and grinding food. These teeth are similar to the way an amalgamator works to grind dental materials. However, an amalgamator specifically creates a triturated mixture that can be used to fill cavities with a durable material.