7 Facts About Amalgam Fillings

Myths and Facts About Amalgam Fillings

If you ask your dentist about sliver amalgam fillings and wonder whether you should have them removed or not then often depending on which dentist you see you will get different answers, many of them will tell you not to be silly as they are perfectly safe. Dr Rachel Hall holistic dentist in Brisbane explains the facts about amalgam fillings to help you make an informed choice.

Amalgam Fillings Contain Mercury By The Way

Whether or not mercury amalgam fillings are safe for the body or not is an argument that has been going on ever since its inception nearly 200 years ago. However, there are some facts about dental amalgam fillings that simply cannot be ignored or refuted.

Facts that may mean when it comes to choice of filling materials we as dentists (and you as the patient) should think again about using amalgam.

7 Facts About Amalgam Fillings

1. Dental amalgam fillings contain about 50% mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal that is extremely toxic to humans.
2.  Amalgam fillings have no natural adhesive qualities, so the tooth must be drilled out – removing large amounts of healthy tooth structure – so that the compound can be wedged into place. This has been shown to cause microscopic, hairline cracks in the structure of the tooth, allowing bacteria and other infectious agents and toxins to enter the inner structure of the tooth. This will eventually cause more decay and damage so that further treatment must be done.
3. Wedging in an amalgam filling distorts and weakens the tooth, so that eventually cracks in the tooth structure may appear leading to sections of the tooth fracturing away.
4. The amalgam itself can crack, leak, and fail, and even fall out over time due to the lack of adhesive qualities.
5. Amalgams have been shown to discolour and tarnish teeth over time, causing cosmetic concerns to many patients.
6. Mercury fillings are softer than normal tooth structure, and many times do not hold up well under all the biting and chewing forces that are placed on the tooth; nor do they help distribute a load of these forces equally through the tooth and into the bone.
7. Metal-based fillings and restorations have been shown to produce a battery effect in the mouth as they are exposed to acidic saliva. Measurable voltages caused by amalgams and other mixed-metals combining with saliva have been detected and documented. This actually indicates a potentially serious problem as these electrical currents interfere with the functioning of the central nervous system and brain.

These issues alone may be a good reason for having amalgam fillings removed and replaced with less toxic, non-metallic and stronger materials.

If you would like to address your concerns regarding your amalgam fillings then speak to a holistic dentist about the potential issues and their safe removal.

Holistic Dentist Brisbane For Safe Amalgam Removal

Call us at our Holistic Dental Practice in Brisbane to see how we can help you with your amalgam fillings. 07 3720 1811