Currently, there are millions of amalgam dental fillings in use and they continue to be placed in dental schools, clinics and hospitals all over the world.
They are considered safe and stable, yet their use continues to be debated, says dentist Nathan Janowicz, DMD. Dental amalgam is a mixture of liquid elemental mercury and a powdered alloy made up of silver, tin and copper. One study compared 10 symptomatic patients and eight patients who reported no health complaints. The symptom group did not have a higher estimated daily uptake of inhaled mercury vapor, nor did this group have a higher mercury concentration in blood and urine than in the control group.
The amounts of mercury detected by the tests were trivial. Other research has shown that the problems patients believe are caused by amalgam restorations are related to their anxiety about them rather than to the fillings themselves.
Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts. Amalgam is one of the most commonly used tooth fillings, and is considered a safe, sound, and effective treatment for tooth decay.
When amalgam fillings are placed in or removed from teeth, they can release a small amount of mercury vapor. Amalgam can also release small amounts of mercury vapor during chewing. People can absorb these vapors by inhaling or ingesting them. However, the U. Although dental amalgam is a safe, commonly used dental material, you may wonder about its mercury content. Be assured that credible scientific studies affirm the safety of dental amalgam.
Study after study shows amalgam is safe and effective for filling cavities. The American Dental Association , U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization all agree that based on extensive scientific evidence, dental amalgam is a safe and effective cavity-filling material. Although a direct correlation between mercury from amalgam and possible harmful health effects has not been established, and there may be cumulative effects from exposure to mercury from other sources such as the environment or diet, some signs or symptoms of excessive mercury in the body may include:.
If your filling is in good condition and your dentist or health care professional says there is no decay beneath the filling, removal of your amalgam filling is not recommended. This is because removing intact amalgam fillings may result in unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure and potentially exposes you to a temporary increase in mercury vapor released during the removal process.
Intact amalgam fillings in anyone, including those of greater risk such as pregnant or nursing mothers and children, should not be removed for the purpose of preventing any disease or health condition, unless considered medically necessary by a health care professional. If you have a health condition especially sensitivity or allergy to mercury, or neurological or kidney disease , you should discuss the need for removal and replacement with your dentist or physician.
The durability of these alternative materials has improved since they were first developed, but may not reach that of dental amalgam fillings, especially in areas with higher biting forces or wear and stress from chewing, such as the back teeth molars.
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