Amalgam fillings are safe. A great deal of research has examined these fillings and found them to be an effective, long-lasting treatment for dental decay. Amalgam, or silver, fillings are made with mercury, silver, tin and copper.
"It's unnecessary for patients to have fillings because they're not required in many cases of dental decay," said Wendell Evans of the University of Sydney in a statement. "This research signals the need for a major shift in the way tooth decay is managed by dentists …
The ADA also says that the substance that makes up silver fillings, known as dental amalgam, has been used safely for 150 years. But some research has suggested the fillings may cause health problems that range from chronic fatigue-like symptoms to neurological problems, including Alzheimer's disease.
Nonexistent cavities are one of the biggest scams. The dentist may say that you, or your child, have multiple cavities. If you have no pain or think your dentist might be scamming you, ask to see the cavities in a mirror or on an x-ray.
Signs Your Filling May Need to Be Replaced
- The filling is cracked. Wear and tear can eventually cause fillings to crack.
- Your tooth hurts. If you have a crack in your tooth, you may develop a cavity under the filling.
- You feel pain when you drink cold beverages.
- Your old filling has changed color.
- Your filling has fallen out.
- Your filling is old.
Many dental plans do not cover resin composite fillings on back teeth (molars). Amalgam fillings are more durable, especially for chewing surfaces. But if you or your dentist prefers composite fillings, your plan will cover its share up to the cost of an amalgam filling, and you are responsible for the difference.
Yes, mercury can leak from amalgam fillings as a vapor. However, according to the International Journal of Dentistry, mercury released from dental amalgam restorations does not contribute to systemic disease or systemic toxicological effects.
If the seal between the tooth enamel and the filling breaks down, food particles and decay-causing bacteria can work their way under the filling. You then run the risk of developing additional decay in that tooth. Decay that is left untreated can progress to infect the dental pulp and may cause an abscessed tooth.
Here are several tests your doctor may use:
- Blood test. A blood test indicates whether you've been exposed to mercury in the last few days.
- Urine test. Over a period of several months, the level of mercury in the urine also decreases.
- Hair test. Hair tests can show signs of long-term mercury exposure.
The Most Common Symptoms Of Mercury Toxicity
- Irritability.
- Fits of anger.
- Lack of energy.
- Fatigue.
- Low self esteem.
- Drowsiness.
- Decline of intellect.
- Low self control.
Dental amalgam can contain silver, zinc, copper, and tin and exposure to excessive doses of these metals can be harmful. The health effects depend on the metal involved and include skin irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
July 28, 2009 -- The mercury used in dental amalgam fillings is not at a level high enough to cause harm in patients, according to the FDA, which today issued its final regulation on the controversial tooth filling material.
Take two teaspoons mixed in water, coconut water, or juice, or buy it in tablet form. Chlorella is also great for heavy metal detoxing, though spirulina seeks out mercury specifically. Barley Grass Juice Extract Powder prepares the mercury for complete absorption by the spirulina, so take these together.
Possible symptoms of mercury poisoning include irritability, memory loss, tremors, poor physical coordination, insomnia, kidney failure and anorexia. To help fill gaps in our knowledge about the potential risks of dental amalgam, the NIDCR began supporting in 1996 the first two safety trials of amalgam in children.
No mainstream dental organisations recommend you replace your amalgam fillings as long as they are in good condition and there is no decay beneath them. Drilling out amalgam will make you lose more healthy tooth and the process will expose you to considerably more mercury vapour than if you left it well alone.
White fillings are weaker than silver fillings and might not last as long. There is a higher chance of cavities reforming under the filling, called recurrent decay, with white fillings. White fillings tend to be more expensive than silver fillings.
Background: Experimental and clinical data published recently show that dental amalgam can give rise to undesirable immunological responses in susceptible individuals. In genetically susceptible strains of experimental animals, mercury and silver can induce autoimmune responses.
Ireland, Finland and Slovakia have announced a timetable that will see amalgam banned over the next few years. They join Sweden and Norway in banning amalgam, which has been linked to neurological and kidney problems.
Even swallowing metallic mercury from a broken thermometer, a dental amalgam preparation, or pieces of an amalgam filling would not cause mercury poisoning. In contrast, breathing in large amounts of metallic mercury vapor can cause poisoning.
Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Composite fillings are an attractive option because they can be closely matched to the color of your teeth. However, composite fillings are more expensive than silver amalgam fillings and are not as durable. Ceramic fillings are made of porcelain and are a very aesthetically pleasing option that is also very durable.
White or tooth-colored fillings do not contain mercury or any metal; they are made from a mix of tooth-colored plastic and glass. However, composite fillings are a bit more expensive than amalgam fillings, because the technique is more complex and it takes longer to place them.
Mercury does not stay in the body forever. It takes about six months to a year to leave the bloodstream once exposure stops. Some researchers think mercury can permanently damage the nervous system in children.
How much does it cost? The cost to remove an old amalgam filling and replace it with resin, varies. But, you should expect it to fall somewhere between $115 and $300. Here's an interesting online dental cost calculator you could play around with to get a feel for what you could be looking at in your market.
There are dentists who practice safe amalgam removal by isolating the teeth that contain amalgam fillings and ensuring that you are not exposed to amalgam material or vapor.
Typically, a silver metal filling will last for 12 years, but some need to be replaced in as little as five years. Teeth grinding, heavy biting and other conditions can weaken the filling, causing it to leak, crack or fall out. This picture shows an amalgam filling that's 25 years old.
Dental fillings are replaced for a variety of reasons, including: new decay (cavity), a gap develops between the filling and tooth, broken or cracked filling, broken or cracked tooth, removal of amalgam (metal) and replacement of a filling that does not match the tooth.
What are Silver Amalgam Fillings? Silver amalgam fillings were the traditional fillings that dentists used when someone had a cavity years ago. In fact, dentists have been using them for over 150 years to fix dental issues. They usually last a minimum of 10 to 15 years and can sometimes last for decades.
Some research suggests that mercury from dental fillings may be linked to high blood pressure, infertility, fatigue, disorders of the central nervous system, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Since amalgam fillings are a mixture of mercury silver and tin, it might best to replace them with composite-based fillings. Speak to your dentist about what type of fillings would be best.
