Are Silver Tooth Fillings Dangerous?
When your dentist drills out a cavity on your tooth, what do they use to prevent the further spread of decay? Once the decay is completely removed and the area is dried out, your dentist may install a silver filling to further prevent any increased deterioration.
Silver fillings, also known as amalgams, have been around for a while and have been a favorite of dentist for years. Because of the pliability of the metal that they are composed of and their ability to bond with the surface of the tooth, most people who have had cavities filled have received silver fillings.
Silver fillings may be used anywhere in the mouth but generally because of the metal appearance of silver fillings, they are placed in the rear of the mouth on the less visible incisor teeth. They may also be used in teeth as far forward as the canines.
Silver fillings also strengthen the teeth when bonded properly, giving the existing incisor or canine teeth tremendous crushing power. Being that they are made of metal, they can be tough to break.
Silver fillings are called such because of their silver appearance in color. Silver fillings can be composed of various metals such as silver, zinc, copper and surprisingly enough, mercury. In fact, some silver fillings can contain as much as 50% mercury!
So, if silver fillings contain mercury, are they dangerous to be in the mouth? The American Dental Association has conducted many studies and has concluded that silver fillings containing mercury are generally thought to be harmless. Silver fillings are estimated to account for more than a billion fillings in recent years and continue to be used all the time. With the numbers of people that have them, they are felt to be safe. Even though silver fillings are so popular, the ADA continues to do research studies on them.
Silver fillings don’t last forever and certainly will need to be replaced. The average silver filling lasts for about 13 years. Silver fillings can become dislodged due to changes in the tooth structure such as cracks or just expansion with age. If this happens, your dentist will need to replace or fix them. Also, sometimes silver fillings can be improperly installed resulting in a leak in the bonding material used. If this happens, the wearer may experience heightened sensitivity in the area. This type of leak can also leak in excess bacteria, resulting in infection.
