The subject of amalgam fillings is controversial in the field of dentistry. Many people do not know that amalgam fillings (often called silver fillings by dentists who still use them and mercury fillings by those who don’t) are more than 40% mercury. Recent research indicates that small amounts of mercury vapor are released into the mouth during chewing, but it has not yet been determined whether or not that vapor is harmful to your health.
Disadvantages of Amalgam Fillings
- The amalgam fillings weaken the surrounding tooth structure, making teeth more susceptible to breaks and fractures.
- Teeth restored with amalgam fillings are more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
- Amalgam fillings tend to require the dentist to remove more of the natural tooth structure.
- The silver appearance of amalgam fillings is visually noticeable.
For these reasons, Dr. Patel does not place mercury fillings. If you choose to have your mercury fillings removed and replaced with white fillings (also called composite fillings), Dr. Patel follows a protocol designed to minimize your exposure to mercury.