To date there are millions of people around the world who have or had "silver" fillings placed in a tooth because of a cavity. The word silver is actually a bit misleading. When we speak of a silver filling it does not mean that the filling is made of silver, but more accurately it is silver in color. In truth these fillings are actually comprised of up to 50% liquid mercury combined with a powder mixture containing zinc, copper, tin, silver and other metals. This combination of materials is an amalgam filling. Over time these fillings can turn black in color and cause a multitude of problems.
The debate is still on as to whether or not silver amalgam is a good material to restore a tooth with and if it is a safe material. Many dental and health professionals believe that amalgam is a poor choice and just because it was the only option for restoring teeth for many years does not mean that it is the best method to use today. Over the years other products have been researched and developed that are far better options for tooth restoration. An amalgam "silver" filling is not an aesthetically pleasing way to restore a tooth and can lead to staining of the teeth. When preparing a tooth for this type of filling healthy tooth structure must be removed in order to make space for the silver filling. In addition amalgam fillings expand and contract with hot and cold temperatures causing the tooth to expand and contract and over years of eating and chewing leaking and cracks will occur. Leaking means that space has developed between the filling and tooth structure and bacteria becomes trapped in this area. This leads to further tooth decay which requires more tooth structure to be removed which further weakens the tooth.
Often a tooth will become cracked because of the excessive pressure placed upon it from the amalgam filling. When this occurs a composite or porcelain filling may be used to correct the issue if the crack is small, however, for larger cracks a crown may be needed to prevent further damage to the tooth. If the crack is deep a root canal may also be needed to save the tooth. In some cases a tooth will need to be removed because of a fracture and replacing the missing tooth can be costly.
Another major argument over amalgam fillings is health related. Some experts say that amalgam fillings are not proven to be harmful to patients, however, these same experts also say that there is no proof that they are safe either. The FDA has been forced to ammend their status that these fillings are completely safe to: "Dental amalgam contains elemental mercury. It releases low levels of mercury vapor that can be inhaled. High levels of mercury vapor exposure are associated with adverse effects in the brain and the kidneys". The information then goes on to argue that amalgam fillings are safe for children over 6 and adults. And that there is limited clinical studies on dental fillings and their toxicity to children and developing fetuses. It IS known that mercury itself can have a neurotoxic effect on the nervous system, ESPECIALLY on the developing systems of fetuses and young children.
It is the mercury vapor known to be released upon chewing and removal of amalgam fillings that is harmful. This puts dental professionals at a higher risk than most people at developing health issues. When we remove these fillings the waste is legally considered a biohazard and dental offices are required to dispose of it through a company specializing in biohazard waste. They have disposal methods that do not contaminate the environment.
It is the reccomendation of many dentists, Dr. Berard included, that an amalgam filling that is leaking or broken be replaced with a material that will strengthen the tooth and prevent future breaking or cracking.
