The Facts about Dental Amalgam (Silver Fillings)

There has been considerable controversy over the use of dental amalgams which are fillings crafted out of different metal materials including mercury. Dental amalgams are actually made up of a mixture of alloy powder; the latter alloy powder may be made up from a variety of metals including copper, tin, silver, palladium, indium, zinc, and mercury. There has been considerable concern about the potential dangers of the mercury used within dental amalgams in particular and the potential health effects that it might have on the individual.

Since the 70s, dental amalgams have been used with increasingly less frequency simply because dental practices and oral hygiene practices have improved considerably. In fact, statistics reveal that there has been roughly a 40 percent drop in the use of dental amalgams since the early 1980s; as advances in dentistry continue, this reduction-related percentage is expected to increase even further since the need for amalgams will continue to diminish. Nevertheless, in some instances it is still necessary to turn to amalgams in situations where tooth restoration is required.
Dental amalgams are still used today and according to the American Dental Association have been researched extensively. Amalgams are considered completely safe for restorative use and are found to be more durable than other restorative dental products. Amalgams are often used when one has quite a bit of tooth deterioration, can be used as foundation material for tooth rebuilding, and can cost far less than other restorative dental products and options as well.