Controversy about silver fillings - what is the current data??

Just today I had several silver fillings put into my mouth. When my dentist asked me if I wanted 'silver' or 'white' fillings, she informed me that the 'white' fillings wouldn't last as long, but she made no mention at all about the mercury in the silver fillings. I came home and happened to look up the info. and was startled to see all the articles opposing silver fillings because of mercury risk. Now I'm terrified and feel very misled....I don't know what to believe!!!!!!!!!!!!

Controversy about silver fillings - what is the current data??
As a dentist, I can tell you that silver amalgams are as safe as the white composite fillings and, for back teeth, will last longer. There has been hoopla about amalgams ever since I can remember [I graduated dental school in 1970] and that's all it's been....hoopla. Go to this site http://www.ada.org/public/topics/filling... and you can read what the ADA has to say. I practiced in the USAF for almost 3 years and, i can tell you, if amalgams were unsafe, there would be a LOT of military personnel ill as amalgams were pretty much routine, and I'm talking huge ones. I have some small amalgams in my back teeth that have been there for almost 40 years and I'm not suffering. Hope this helps.
Reply:The "mercury" in the amalgam fillings is chemically bonded to the other metals and so it is not harmful to you. Some amalgam fillings that were done 30 years ago are still in place, while the white fillings are known to fall out easily, causing you to go back to the dentist, pay even more money and waste even more time to get your fillings replaced. The amalgam fillings will last a lot longer, and they are also less expensive, so in my opinion your dentist was only trying to give you the best service and was not trying to mislead you.


Also, a lot of bad dentists will try to scare you away from amalgam fillings by talking about mercury, so they can make more money off of your dental work.
Reply:A properly compounded amalgam filling remains the best mechanical restoration. However,





1) Poor compounding can lead to amalgam swell over the years, cracking the tooth.





2) Amalgam can corrode and erode. A few amalgam fillings are no probem. A couple of dozen start begging mercury dose questions.





If the filling is going to be in there for decades and you have a top quality dentist, go amalgam. If your dentist is sloppy with measurements, go composite - and find a better dentist.

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