Amalgam Dental Fillings: The Debate Continues
Last updated November 22nd, 2009
In a recent post I wrote for DrBicuspid.com, I mentioned that during a recent congressional review of Medicare and Medicaid services, Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA) suggested that dentists should be discouraged from using amalgam in dental fillings because “you have gas constantly escaping,” a health concern she thought should overshadow any savings in cost.
Amalgam is the technical name for silver fillings. The reason dentists debate the pros and cons of silver fillings is because amalgam fillings incorporate mercury — a substance that’s beginning to be banned in landfills as more research comes out about the effects of mercury on the eco-system.
Amalgam fillings have been in use in the U.S. since the 1830s. According to a PubMed.gov article, 19th-century dentists mixed mercury with filings from silver coins.
You can find lots of research about whether or not amalgam fillings pose a risk to your health. Some believe, the way I do, that mercury doesn’t pose a risk if it’s combined with a metal alloy. Others feel that no mercury is the best course of action.
And too, illness can strike anyone without rhyme or reason. I recently had a patient who died of ovarian cancer at the age of 42 — and she didn’t have one filling. My uncle had a mouthful of amalgam fillings and lived to 92.
The bottom line, however, is that today dentists have more materials at their disposal and don’t have to rely on amalgam to fill cavities. These materials wear better and look better.
I haven’t used amalgam or other metals in my practice for 12 years now because I found the amalgam fillings cracked patients’ teeth — whereas composite materials do not.
Some of the pros and cons of using amalgam versus composite materials are:
Amalgam
A durable material that last many years
Comprised of 50% mercury
Mercury vapor can be released into the mouth, which is harmful for those with weakened immune systems
Can cause teeth to turn gray
Amalgam expands as you age, causing your tooth /teeth to crack or break
Composite materials (or bonded aesthetic fillings)
Filling is tooth-colored
Procedure requires less tooth to be removed
Insulates better against hot and cold
Easily replaced
Sometimes not as durable as amalgam
As a consumer, it pays to research this topic and do what makes you feel comfortable. If your dentist will only support amalgam fillings and you prefer composite fillings, then get a second opinion.
Recent work published in the American Chemical Society journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, shows that the surface forms of mercury in older “silver” fillings (also known as amalgams) may be less toxic than previously thought. .So it might be relief for people who already have amalgam fillings .But with new types of tooth colored fillings, most dentists are gradually phasing out use of amalgam fillings. I believe this is a matter of personal choice to ensure that our patients are not exposed to unnecessary health risks.
Amandeep — My beef with amalgam is that one, it’s ugly and two, it fractures cusps. We (dentists) need to get in the modern era and provide proper care to our patients.