Mercury Free Fillings

Mercury Free

Today, we can replace your old silver mercury fillings and create a much more natural look. New fillings are nearly invisible.

1. Mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive element on earth.

2. Silver (mercury) fillings turn your teeth black over time.

For many years, mercury amalgam dental fillings, which are sometimes also called silver fillings, have been commonly used by dentists to fill dental cavities. However, due to their mercury content, questions have been raised as to whether or not this type of filling is truly safe for use in the human body. Mercury is an element that exists in two forms, which are elemental mercury and methylmercury.

The form of mercury that is found in dental fillings is elemental mercury, and approximately fifty percent of a dental amalgam filling is composed of it. The rest is made up of silver, with trace amounts of copper, tin, and zinc. About 100 million Americans have fillings made of mercury amalgam in their mouths today.

Why Mercury Has Been Used in Fillings

Mercury has been used in amalgam fillings for many years because it is cheap and because the mercury makes the amalgam more flexible so that it can easily fit into a cavity. This amalgam material hardens quickly after it is applied to the cavity and then becomes strong and durable.

It is then able to withstand years of biting and chewing without falling apart. It has been generally believed and accepted that the mercury, once it is mixed into an amalgam, is no longer toxic to the body because it has formed a stable compound with the other metals. However, over time, this idea has been seriously questioned, and now the use of mercury amalgam dental fillings is much less common than it used to be.

Dangers of Mercury Fillings

It has been found that the mercury contained in dental amalgam fillings is not as stable and inactive as was previously thought. In fact, mercury is released into the body every time the patient with the filling chews food. Also, drinking hot beverages like coffee can cause mercury vapors to be released into the mouth. Each time, the amount is very small, but over time, the mercury can accumulate in the body.

One study from the University of Washington has shown that this chronic release of mercury from a dental filling can be a cause of long-term brain damage. As mercury detection methods become more sophisticated and as further research continues to be done, there has been even more concern about these amalgam fillings among dentists. For all these reasons, it makes sense to look at alternatives.

Alternatives to Mercury Fillings

One of the most popular alternatives to dental mercury amalgam fillings is composite fillings. Composite fillings are made of plastic and glass and are biocompatible with the human body. They are colored to match the rest of the teeth, and they bond naturally with tooth enamel so that less of the tooth needs to be removed to place the filling than in the case of an amalgam filling. Porcelain, glass ionomers, and gold are some other alternative materials that can be used for dental fillings. These are more expensive than amalgam fillings, but are durable and look better. The type of filling that will work best for you is determined by the extent of the tooth decay, the type of insurance coverage you have, the cost of the filling material, and your budget and personal wishes.