Are silver (amalgam) fillings SAFE?

I know white fillings it costs more than silver fillings. But my real concern is the health hazard of the mercury inside the silver amalgam fillings.

Are silver (amalgam) fillings SAFE?
Silver amalgam—a health hazard?





The American Dental Association's official position regarding silver amalgam is that it is a "safe, durable and cost-effective material that dentists have used in tooth restorations for more than 150 years." But there are some practitioners who have expressed serious concern over the safety of amalgams, and the controversy over its use continues.





Amalgam's advantages:





* Silver amalgam is a more durable tooth filling material than composite resin in teeth that are subjected to a lot of biting pressure.


* An amalgam filling costs considerably less than a comparable composite filling.





The disadvantages of amalgam:





* Silver fillings are less attractive than tooth-colored composite resin fillings; for this reason, they're typically not placed in teeth located near the front of your mouth.





* The mercury in amalgam fillings expands and contracts with heat and cold (think of the mercury in a thermometer). This can eventually cause the filling to fracture your tooth, so a crown will be required to restore its functionality.





* Silver fillings will eventually corrode and leak, which can cause new decay to develop underneath the filling. The leakage can also give a gray appearance to the entire tooth.





Which to choose?





Ultimately, the choice is a personal one for both dentists and patients. Do amalgam's benefits outweigh the possible risks? Are tooth-colored fillings worth the significant extra cost? Which filling material will prove to be most cost-effective in the long run? We recommend that you research your options, discuss them with your dental healthcare providers, and choose the filling material that's right for you, based on what you've learned.
Reply:Amalgam fillings are perfectly safe. They contain mercury, but not enough is released by the fillings to be poisonous.
Reply:Wow....I just went to the dentist today and asked about this as I was worried too. Apparently there is alot of talk about them being really bad for you but my dentist advised me today that there is such a minimal amount in them that it doesnt do us any harm....contrary to what rumours are going around. He said we come into contact with many more things in our lives with a higher content of mercury and that I shouldnt worry. Also they last about 5 times longer than white fillings. White fillings have to be touched up every few years where as amalgam fillings can last up to 40 or 50 years....good luck....I have to go on Thursday (YUCK!) and get a filling... :o(


Have a Merry Christmas! xx
Reply:THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN AMAL ,COMPOST WHITE FILLS.





1. SILVER AKA AMALGAM TEND TO CRODE AND LOSE ITS SEAL CAUSING DECAY


2. SILVER TEND TO EXPAND AND CAUSE TOOTH FRACTURE.





WHITE FILS AKA COMPOSIT


1. BONDS TO TOOTH BETTER SEAL


2. NO CROTION


3.NO XPANDIND


4. BEUTIFUL ESTICALLY


5.NO SHRINKING





COST S MORE BUT WORTH IT
Reply:I've had amalgam fillings for 45 years with no ill affects. There has been a lot of negative feedback concerning this product but I can honestly say I know of no-one who has suffered from these fillings.
Reply:White fillings's additonal cost is well worth it just for the color alone. The health benefit is a BONUS!!!
Reply:There is no scientific evidence or documentation noted for mercury toxicity from amalgam fillings. An individual takes in more mercury from one serving of shellfish then they do in a lifetime of having a silver filling in their mouth.
Reply:i'm a dentist and if i need a filling tomorrow on a back tooth i'd take a silver filling. the white ones just don't last that long and they tend to leave more post op sensitivity. i see lot's of silver fillings on old guys that got them on the way to vietnam. conversley, i do a lot of root canals on teeth that have had white fillings for only a couple years.





silver is still the standard on back teeth.

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