Park
Cities Dental
"The
Art and Science of a Healthy Smile"
Dental
Amalgam
What is dental amalgam?
Most people recognize dental amalgam as silver fillings.
Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, and an alloy of silver, tin and
copper. Mercury makes up about 40-50 percent of the compound. Mercury is
used to bind the metals together and to provide a strong, hard durable
filling. After years of research, mercury has been found to be the only
element that will bind these metals together in such a way that can be
easily manipulated into a tooth cavity.
Is mercury in dental amalgam
safe?
Yes. Mercury in dental amalgam is not poisonous. Its
release is extremely small. In fact, the amount released in a dental amalgam
is much less than what patients are exposed to in food, air, and water.
When mercury is combined with the other materials in dental amalgam, its
chemical nature changes, so it is essentially harmless. Ongoing scientific
studies conducted over the past 100 years continue to prove that amalgam
is not harmful. Claims of diseases caused by mercury in amalgam are anecdotal,
as are claims of miraculous cures achieved by removing amalgam. These claims
have not been proven scientifically.
Why do dentists use dental amalgam?
Dental amalgam has withstood the test of time, which
is why it is the material of choice. Amalgam is a very durable material
and has been used safely for more than 150 years. It is estimated that
well over 1 billion amalgam restorations (fillings) are placed annually.
Dentists appreciate using dental amalgam because it is easier to work with
than other alternatives. Dentists also believe that patients prefer dental
amalgam to other alternatives because of its safety, cost-effectiveness,
and ability to be placed in the tooth cavity quickly.
Why don't dentists use alternatives
to amalgam?
Alternatives to amalgam, such as cast gold restorations,
porcelain, and composite resins are more costly. Gold restorations take
longer to make, and porcelain and composite resins are esthetically appealing,
but aren't as durable as amalgam in posterior (back) teeth.
What about patients allergic
to mercury?
Patients are better served if we know what they're allergic
to. The trouble is, a lot of people don't know what they are allergic to.
The incidence of allergy to mercury is far less than one percent of the
population. People suspected of having an allergy to mercury should receive
tests by qualified physicians, and, when necessary, seek appropriate alternatives.
Should patients have amalgam removed? No. To do so, without need, would
result in unnecessary expense, and potential injury to teeth.
Are staff occupationally exposed?
Dental staff are more occupationally exposed than patients.
Necessary precautions should be taken, such as having open air ventilation,
and being careful not to spill mercury. Dental personnel have been shown
to excrete three to four times more mercury in their urine than the average
patient. Studies have shown that dentists have not suffered from more mercury-related
disorders than the general population. In the few instances when dentists
have shown evidence of mercury disorders, these cases have been associated
with poor mercury management in the dental office, especially mercury spills
that have not been cleaned up properly. More dentists also are using pre-mixed
capsules, which reduce the chance of mercury spills. And newer, more advanced
dental amalgams are containing smaller amounts of mercury than before.
An interesting factor can be brought into this: Because dental staff are exposed to mercury more often, one would expect dental personnel to have higher rates of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. They do not.
What are other sources of mercury?
Mercury can be found in air, food, and water. We are
exposed to higher levels of mercury from these sources than from a mouthful
of amalgam.
Much of this information was received
from Jack Mitchem, DMD, professor of dental materials at Oregon Health
Sciences University Dental School and past chairman of the American Dental
Association Council on Dental Materials, Instruments and Equipment.
AGD Impact thanks Recall, the Oregon AGD newsletter, which also contributed
to portions of this fact sheet.
This information was compiled for you by the Academy of General Dentistry.
Your AGD-member cares about long-term dental health for you and your family.
The Academy's 36,000 general dentist members in the United States and Canada
participate in an ongoing program of professional development and continuing
education that keeps them up to date in dentistry.
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Send comments to: Dr. J. Eric Hibbs