The two most common types of dental fillings are silver-amalgam fillings and composite resin fillings. Neither has yet to become an absolute in general dentistry. Some family dentists feel that one material is preferable to the other, but both have their drawbacks, nonetheless.
While the official position of the American Dental Association is that silver-amalgam is safe, durable, and inexpensive, there is increasing dissent to this point of view.
Many practitioners now have expressed serious concerns over the safety of amalgams and feel that they should not be used at all.
However, increasing numbers of health experts are beginning to question the safety of silver amalgam fillings and say that they should never be used under any circumstances whatsoever.
The cause of this concern is the composition of amalgams themselves. Along with copper, traces of zinc, and silver, they consist of 50% mercury. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that has a number of negative side effects on the body.
Most dentists personally avoid the use of anything that contains mercury. Most practitioners are not here to get caught up in a heated debate, we simply believe that it is better to be safe than sorry, and to use composite resin fillings that have a greater cosmetic appeal.
In the meantime, however, the debate rages on in general dentistry circles as anti-amalgam forces point out that friction on these fillings causes mercury vapor to be released. Even in trace amounts, this gas is cyto-toxic term which means it kills cells.
Mercury can also be absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. It is then stored in vital parts of the body such as the kidneys, liver, and brain. Never is ANY level of mercury considered safe.
The ADA feels that this grave concern is a bit extreme, however. They maintain that mercury, when bound to other metals, is completely harmless. However, they have stated that those with mercury allergies should not have these fillings placed in their mouths, and they have also conceded that there may be a remote possibility that people with immunocompromised systems may suffer from side effects.
To date, there have been no controlled scientific studies that conclusively link health problems to silver-amalgam fillings. In the meantime, however, the World Health Organization has said that continued monitoring of amalgams is very important.
Like most dentists have said before, there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
The advantages to silver-mercury amalgams are they are a very durable tooth filling material when they are subjected to extreme biting pressure. They also cost a great deal less.
The disadvantages to amalgam are that they are visible to the naked eye and not at all attractive when you smile. They can also expand and contract with extreme variations of heat and cold. This can cause a tooth to crack in some cases. Also, they eventually corrode and leak and new decay will often develop underneath the filling. Even if it does not, the entire tooth will turn gray.
Tooth-colored composite resin fillings also have their share of advantages and disadvantages. In terms of advantages, they look completely natural and blend right in with the color of teeth. Cosmetic Dentists can match them to surrounding tooth color so closely they will look completely natural. Also, because resin bonds to the tooth, it creates a tight seal that makes the restored tooth stronger than it originally was.
Composite resin fillings can also be much smaller than amalgam equivalents. They are sometimes the only way to restore a very small cavity. When filling larger cavities, they require less drilling and preserve more of the existing tooth structure. They have also evolved to the point that that are almost as durable as amalgam equivalents when it comes to withstanding bite force.
The only real disadvantage to composite resin fillings is price. They can easily cost 150%-200% more than amalgam fillings. Many insurance programs do not cover the additional cost, which means that you have to pay out of pocket.
Most cosmetic dentists are convinced that in the long run your teeth will fare far better with a substance that requires less invasiveness to apply and that will not expand and cause tooth fractures later down the line.
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