Dental Amalgam Danger: Mercury Dental Fillings and Health

Patients that got a cavity that needed restoration can relate to this topic. Many dentists might use a dental amalgam filling to seal up a cavity, stopping decay to spread.

However, there are some rumors about silver fillings (amalgams); one of them is that these kinds of fillings contain mercury, which is totally a threat to your health. As a patient, you could be asking yourself if it's safe to place it in your mouth. Fortunately, we are here to solve all your questions about these fillings and their safety.

What Are Dental Amalgams?

Dental fillings were once one of the most typical materials that dentists used to fill cavities. Amalgams are also called "silver fillings" due to their silver lookalike appearance, not because they are made of silver.

They are more adaptable than modern materials. These fillings can be used for other dental solutions that hold up better over time, mainly when placed on teeth that experience pressure, tear, and wear from chewing.

Plus, amalgams were very famous because they are more budget-friendly, as they cost less than other types of dental fillings.

But many dentists nowadays use tooth-colored materials to restore a tooth and fill cavities. Amalgam fillings are less common than they were in the past. You want to know why? Keep reading!

Are Dental Amalgam Fillings Safe?

There are many concerns when it comes to these kinds of dental solutions for cavities. The main concern was over the elemental mercury component in amalgams, and we are going to explain this point better in a second.

Amalgams contain elemental mercury that releases small levels of this component in the form of a vapor that can be absorbed by our lungs when inhaled. Continuous exposure to mercury is linked to adverse effects in the body, especially kidneys and brain.

So, the quick answer to this is that even when some studies showed that amalgams could have very low danger, why put our health on the line to getting them?

Why Is Mercury Used in Dental Amalgam?

Even when sometimes amalgams are called "silver fillings," they are made from a combination of different metals that makes it the most common dental filling material employed by dentists for at least the last 100 years. The mix includes mercury, silver, tin, and copper.

People often wonder why if there is a risk, dentists decide to use amalgams. The quick answer to that is that mercury helps make the filling material flexible. And when combined with an alloy powder, mercury produces a compound that is light enough to press and mix into teeth.

Another upside that dentists see in amalgams is that it hardens fast and can resist the forces of chewing and biting over many years.

But even when amalgams have these benefits, the downsides are more significant than the upsides or the "bright side" of it.

Is It Safe to Use Mercury in Dental Amalgam?

Some people believe that since mercury is a metal that we can find in our environment due to that occurring naturally, everyone is exposed to it.

The idea is that we all are exposed because mercury is in some way, whether through the air, soil, water or even in our food. Therefore, people justify that having a little more mercury in your mouth isn't all that much different from other daily exposures.

As with most substances, the harm that mercury can cause in the body is connected to the amount ingested. Small levels of this element don't cause any adverse effects. However, at higher concentrations, mercury is known to produce multiple unfavorable reactions and symptoms.

Mercury amounts in amalgams in the form of vapor can be released and inhaled into the lungs and other parts of the body.

However, it makes sense to wonder whether amalgams are safe to put in our mouths even when research has concluded that amalgams fillings are nothing to worry about because of the small mercury levels in them.

Supposedly, these small levels of mercury are not enough to produce any toxic effect. But, is it worth the "small" risk?

Nowadays, there are many alternatives to get a healthy tooth restoration with biocompatible materials that represent zero risks to patients.

Are There Better Alternatives Than Amalgams?

Of course, there are better ways to fix a tooth than amalgams. You have a lot of options that you can discuss with your dentist in Cancun that would help you to restore your smile by using only biocompatible materials.

You have alternatives to avoid amalgam fillings such as composite resin or porcelain to restore your teeth. Composite resin can provide a more visually appealing look because it is a tooth-colored solution that can hide the restoration better to the eyes of other people.

Depending on the damage, your dentist will talk to you about the best solution for you. Remember that, in some cases, the resin will not be enough to fix a cavity.

Sometimes dental crowns are needed to restore an entire tooth with a lot of damage. A dental crown will provide better support, and it will last longer than resin. Plus, this way, you can ensure that your tooth will be great!

When Should I Consider Amalgam Alternatives?

Always. There are many more high-grade solutions nowadays that aren't worth taking the risk of picking amalgams. And if you are wondering if you should have your amalgam fillings removed, we can help you through it!

Just give us a call to provide you more details about how you can get a more healthy and beautiful smile by getting rid of amalgams!