I don't want a silver filling! I hear this from time to time in the office. What are silver fillings (amalgam fillings)? They are sometimes called amalgam because they have a few different things in them amalgamated together to form something new.Just so you know we do not do amalgam silver fillings anymore in our office and have not for many years. This mainly was a factor of the improvement in the strength and durability of white fillings and patient demand. We have found that the ability of the stonger newer composite white fillings that bond to the tooth (strengthening it) and the cosmetic benefits make it a very desirable restorative material.
Amalgam consists of a powder of ground up mainly silver and copper and some other metals mixed with a little drop of mercury. You shake it all together (amalgamate). After a few seconds of "trituration" the thing is kind of maleable and putty like. It is placed into the cavity preperation and initially hardens in a few minutes. It is very important to note that there is basically no murcury coming out of a silver filling once it is amalgamated. They are quite safe as determined by extensive scientific clinical studies-(See links below.)
Silver fillings were very common in the past and were the standard of care, and still are, because they hold up quite well to biting forces. If a dentist is still doing silver fillings, that is still an acceptable method of treatment. There are a few drawbacks to "silver" fillings: 1. They do not bond to the tooth, they basically just fill the cavity. 2. They are silver so there is a cosmetic concern. Now, how many people are looking at your back teeth trying to see in there? If you know them that well, it probably does not matter what your teeth look like. Still, we are all concerned with appearance and want the most cosmetic solution available. 3. thermal conductivity is better/lower with white fillings.
Silver fillings were very common in the past and were the standard of care, and still are, because they hold up quite well to biting forces. If a dentist is still doing silver fillings, that is still an acceptable method of treatment. There are a few drawbacks to "silver" fillings: 1. They do not bond to the tooth, they basically just fill the cavity. 2. They are silver so there is a cosmetic concern. Now, how many people are looking at your back teeth trying to see in there? If you know them that well, it probably does not matter what your teeth look like. Still, we are all concerned with appearance and want the most cosmetic solution available. 3. thermal conductivity is better/lower with white fillings.
See the ADA sites here for more scientific reviewed studies on this sometimes controversial subject:
ADA site on dental filling options
ADA Summary of safety of Amalgam study April 19th issue JADA 2006
5 comments:
Interesting. I had my very first cavity about two years ago. It was disappointing to go 20 something years through life cavity free and then all of the sudden get the bad news. Even though the affected tooth was the very last molar on the top row, pretty much invisable, I was still determined to go with the white filling. Now I just need to make sure those "watches" (hope I got that right) don't get any worse! :)
This has been a fun blog to read about dentistry. My best friend Stephen Dent started a dentistry website and it is an absolute must read for anyone interested in this line of work. Enjoy!
The way you have clearly demonstrate all those about silver filling; it's really interesting and keep up the good work.Thanks anyway
Wow very interesting. Since Amalgam consist silver, copper, & some other metals mixed with a little drop of mercury. Among them Copper & Mercury are poisoning element. May it harmful. periodontics of niles
Because of its durability, dental amalgam (mercury based) are still widely used in North America and other developed countries. With new types of tooth colored fillings, most dentists are gradually phasing out its use.
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