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Filling you in on Dental Fillings.
Are dental amalgams safe?
Yes. Dental amalgam has been used in tooth restorations
worldwide for more than 100 years. Studies have failed
to find any link between amalgam restorations and any
medical disorder. Amalgam continues to be a safe restorative
material for dental patients.
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Is it possible to have an allergic
reaction to amalgam?
Only a very small number of people are allergic to
amalgam fillings. Fewer than 100 cases have ever been
reported. In these rare instances, mercury may trigger
an allergic response. Symptoms of amalgam allergy are
very similar to a typical skin allergy.
Often patients who are truly allergic to amalgam have
a medical or family history of allergies to metals.
If there is a confirmed allergy, another restorative
material will be used.
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Is it true that dental amalgams have been banned
in other countries?
No. Erroneous news reporting has confused restrictions
in a few countries with outright bans. Dentists around
the world are using dental amalgams (silver fillings)
to restore teeth that have dental decay. Studies have
not shown a link between dental amalgam and any medical
disorder.
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Is there a filling material that matches tooth color?
Yes. Composite resins are tooth-colored, plastic materials
(made of glass and resin) that are used both as fillings
and to repair defects in the teeth. Because they are
tooth-colored, it is difficult to distinguish them from
natural teeth. Composites are often used on the front
teeth where a natural appearance is important. They
can be used on the back teeth as well depending on the
location and extent of the tooth decay. Composite resins
are usually more costly than amalgam fillings.
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If my tooth doesn’t hurt and my filling is
still in place, why would the filling need to be replaced?
Constant pressure from chewing, grinding or clenching
can cause dental fillings, or restorations, to wear
away, chip or crack. Although you may not be able to
tell that your filling is wearing down, your dentist
can identify weaknesses in your restorations during
a regular check-up.
If the seal between the tooth enamel and the restoration
breaks down, food particles and decay-causing bacteria
can work their way under the restoration. You then run
the risk of developing additional decay in that tooth.
Decay that is left untreated can progress to infect
the dental pulp and may cause an abscess.
If the restoration is large or the recurrent decay
is extensive, there may not be enough tooth structure
remaining to support a replacement filling. In these
cases, your dentist may need to replace the filling
with a crown.
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