Amalgam Fillings: Pros and Cons

Today, there are many materials that are used to restore a tooth, or, as commonly said, to “put in a filling.” They include phosphoric acid and silicate cements, amalgam, glass ionomer cements, chemical-cure resin cement, composites and light-curing Resins, as well as plastic and ceramic Inlays and veneers. No matter how good the material is, much depends on the skill and professionalism of the doctor, but the physical properties of the material play a very important role.

Amalgam fillings have been for a long time the most common material to fill tooth cavities. However, a growing number of dentists have warned about the potential harmful effect of these fillings on the human body. Amalgam is an alloy consisting of metal with mercury. The most commonly used material in dentistry is a mercury-silver amalgam, which also contains copper and zinc.  The opponents of amalgam fillings base their concern specifically on the toxic properties of mercury. It is considered that mercury, which can enter the body from a filling, adversely affects the brain.  This is particularly so among children, whose brains are in the developmental stage.

Studies have shown that people who have many amalgam fillings have a high concentration of mercury in the brain, comparable to the levels found in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.  By the same token, two recent studies, conducted in the USA and Portugal, have cast doubt on the danger of using amalgam fillings.  Authors of the studies, who monitored 500 children divided into two groups between 5 to 7 years of age, did not find significant changes in the brain and kidneys among children with amalgam fillings, compared to children who did not have such fillings. The advantages of amalgam fillings in comparison to other materials are its relatively lower price and its ability to last twice as long. A disadvantage, in addition to the neurotoxic properties of mercury, is its appearance, which, over time, darkens, becomes almost black, and results in a less attractive smile.

If you have amalgam fillings, should you replace them with another material that is considered safer? There is no solid answer to this question, as it is rather individualized.  If your filling has signs of deterioration, then it is necessary to replace it, because during the disintegration of Amalgam, the danger of mercury entering the body increases.

While drilling out the amalgam filling, extra safety measures must be taken, since the risk of mercury entering the body also increases during the process. In this case, everything depends on the qualifications of the dentist, the equipment used to efficiently remove all resultant small particles of amalgam, and on the strict implementation of safe filling replacement procedures.

Should you consider getting a new filling, it is better not to use amalgam as a filling material. In the office of Dr. Nataliya Safonova, you will receive a detailed consultation in regards to this matter, and be provided with a selection of materials that best suits you in terms of the condition

of your teeth and your budget. 

Dr. Nataliya Safonova

TALA Dental Care, PC

1985 Ocean Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11230

(718) 376-1090

(800) 801-0603