If you have an old filling in your mouth, it’s likely that it’s made out of metal amalgam. This was the standard for a very long time due to this material’s durability and malleability.
However, metal amalgam has largely fallen out of favor over the last few decades. Part of that is due to the rise of more advanced materials, but a large contributor is the common use of mercury in these metal fillings.
If you have one of those, hearing that may make you wonder if it’s worth replacing. If you’re curious, here’s what you should know about the prospect of upgrading your dental fillings.
Is it Necessary to Replace Amalgam Fillings?
Mercury is incredibly toxic, and if your filling has any in it, that’s going to increase your chance of heavy metal poisoning over time. If you suspect that your restoration contains mercury, it’s worth replacing it as quickly as you can.
However, not every dentist can safely remove mercury fillings. There’s a risk of accidentally exposing you to mercury vapor during the removal process. For that reason, it’s critical to find a “mercury safe” dentist. These dentists understand how to deal with heavy metals with minimal risk to the patient, dental staff, and the environment.
What Other Materials Are Used in Fillings?
Nowadays, tooth-colored composite is the industry standard for dental fillings. Unlike metal amalgam, this style of filling uses an acrylic substance that can be molded and cured into place on the tooth. This acrylic composite can be shaded to perfectly match the color of your teeth, making them more aesthetically pleasing than traditional silver.
Naturally, tooth-colored composite doesn’t contain any dangerous heavy metals. It also doesn’t expand or shrink when exposed to extreme temperatures, so if you’ve noticed that your metal filling used to hurt when eating something cold, these fillings won’t have that problem.
While it may not be worth it to remove a metal amalgam filling, it’s almost certainly worth replacing yours with something more modern once it fails.
About the Author
Dr. Khushboo Gandhi has been working in dentistry for over 15 years, and in all that time her dedication to her work has only gotten stronger. The longer she works with her community, the more passion she feels for helping people smile! Dr. Gandhi initially began practicing dentistry in India before moving to the US, where she completed advanced training for international dentists from the Oklahoma College of Dentistry.
She’s also a proud IABDM-recognized “mercury safe” dentist, so if you want to swap out your restoration, she’d be happy to help you. If you have any questions about dental fillings, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (972) 449-5120.