Are You Worried About the Mercury In Your Fillings?

The silver fillings in your teeth, which are called dental amalgams, are still widely used by the dental profession in most parts of the world; however, many dentists in the United States have stopped placing them in their patients’ teeth. The reason is that the amalgam consists of a mix of metals — 50% Mercury, 35% Silver, 15% Tin & other metals. 

Some dentists have come to believe that it is not safe to put so much mercury into the mouth of a person because mercury is a toxic non-radioactive metal.  There is now compelling evidence from reputable scientific bodies such as the World Health Organization that mercury is not “locked” safely in the metal bonds in the teeth, but can leak slowly into the body. Some countries have either banned or imposed serious limitations on amalgam use.

For these reasons, and others, many dentists have switched to using white fillings or dental composites, which have absolutely no mercury, for their patients.

Although they are not outlawed in the United States, many U.S. dentists prefer to place white fillings or dental composites, which do not have any mercury.

In accordance with the American Dental Association’s official stance, United States dentists cannot officially support the replacement of mercury fillings.  However, readers should know that certain dentists do not, and will not, use silver mercury amalgams for your dental care.