Amalgam is a combination of metals (including silver, tin and copper) that has been used as a filling material for the last 150 years.Patients often ask our dentists: “Should I replace all my silver fillings?” Short answer would be: No, not routinely.
Amalgam fillings should be treated like any other dental restoration. If there is decay, chipping or cracking – the filling should be replaced. Otherwise, a perfectly good amalgam filling with no defects is probably best left alone, unless you don’t like the dark colour on the tooth.
The other concern some patients have with amalgam fillings is its mercury content. It is true, mercury vapour can be released from amalgam fillings over time. However, we are all exposed to mercury in our daily lives e.g. in the food we eat, such as fish. The amount of mercury released from fillings is very low and deemed insignificant when comparing to our normal daily exposures and are thus very safe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that “No controlled studies have been published demonstrating systemic adverse effects from amalgam restorations”
At Dana Street Dental, we pride ourselves on doing fillings that don’t hurt, look great and last for years. Whilst the majority of the fillings we provide for patients are white, there are some circumstances which may warrant the use of amalgam in order to provide the same level of high quality dentistry.If you have any further queries about amalgam as a filling material or would like to have your amalgam fillings checked, please give us a call to schedule an appointment.
