Are My Fillings Too Big For Safe Amalgam Removal

Can your mercury fillings be too big for safe amalgam removal?

I hear and get asked this a lot “my dentist told me my fillings are too big to take out because my teeth will crumble is this true”. Well, your fillings are never too big to have safe amalgam removal. In fact, the bigger your filling is the more mercury it contains and the more likely your tooth is to crack and fracture the longer the filling is left in place.

Amalgam fillings weaken your teeth by expanding and contracting due to changes in mouth temperature and under pressure, this creates cracks and splits in the tooth.

My amalgam fillings are very large… can they still be removed?

Even if you have very large amalgams they can still be removed as with modern dentistry we can more easily rebuild your tooth than we could in the past.

Actually, if your fillings are very large they contain a bigger volume of mercury and also more likely to cause cracking and fracture of your tooth structure which may mean what is left can’t be fixed.

What issues are likely to be under the amalgam?

Often teeth with old amalgams even though things may ok from the outside and on x-ray do have decay under the filling or there can be cracks in the tooth structure.

Amalgam fillings expand and contract more than your tooth does and that movement plus the fact that the tooth had to be weakened beyond where it had decayed by extra drilling to make the amalgam stay in your tooth means that the surrounding tooth structure cracks and large portions of your tooth can fracture away. Or worse still your tooth can split which means it needs to be removed. Many non-holistic dentists don’t like amalgam because of the structural damage that they do to your teeth.

My amalgam fillings are very old… will they still have mercury in them?

Dental amalgam fillings contain mercury as part of a stable alloy with other metals. Over time, small amounts of mercury vapour can be released, particularly during activities such as chewing or brushing. Research indicates this release may occur throughout the life of the filling, although the levels are generally considered low by major health authorities.

As fillings age, they can undergo wear, corrosion, or changes in surface structure, which may influence their physical integrity and, in some cases, the level of vapour release. However, for many patients, existing amalgam restorations remain functional and are considered safe.

Decisions about whether to monitor or replace amalgam fillings are best made on an individual basis. A comprehensive dental assessment allows us to evaluate the condition of your fillings, your oral health, and any specific concerns you may have.

We recommend discussing your options with a suitably qualified dentist so you can make an informed decision about your care and any potential treatment.

Call us today for your safe amalgam removal assessment 07 3720 1811