dental filling using amalgam?

Question

did u know that your filling in your mouth contains mercury which is one of the toxic substances? Yet the studies about the safeness of using this type of filling is still going on. As i read from the internet, some of the contries had banned the amalgam filling. Can u give me any opinions or ideas about the amalgam filling.. and surely i would be really approciated by me..tq

Answer 1

Amalgam Fillings

Used by dentists for more than a century, dental amalgam is the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use. It is durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials. For those reasons, it remains a valued treatment option for dentists and their patients.

Dental amalgam is a stable alloy made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements. Although dental amalgam continues to be a safe, commonly used restorative material, some concern has been raised because of its mercury content. However, the mercury in amalgam combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth.

While questions have arisen about the safety of dental amalgam relating to its mercury content, the major U.S. and international scientific and health bodies, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, among others have been satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe, reliable and effective restorative material.

Because amalgam fillings can withstand very high chewing loads, they are particularly useful for restoring molars in the back of the mouth where chewing load is greatest. They are also useful in areas where a cavity preparation is difficult to keep dry during the filling replacement, such as in deep fillings below the gum line. Amalgam fillings, like other filling materials, are considered biocompatible—they are well tolerated by patients with only rare occurrences of allergic response.

Disadvantages of amalgam include possible short-term sensitivity to hot or cold after the filling is placed. The silver-colored filling is not as natural looking as one that is tooth-colored, especially when the restoration is near the front of the mouth, and shows when the patient laughs or speaks. And to prepare the tooth, the dentist may need to remove more tooth structure to accommodate an amalgam filling than for other types of fillings.

Apart from the Amalgam fillings, there are other options for dental fillingwhich are cost wise more but superior in terms of advanced technology such as:
Gold Alloys,Base Metal Alloys,Indirect Composites

Answer 2

Dental Filling Choices These days, the choices for dental fillings abound. Some of the most common dental filling materials available for use today include but are not limited to: Amalgam fillings - this type of filling has been used for generations and is one of the oldest materials used for filling cavities in the United States. The filling is made of the combination of silver, mercury, copper and tin. This type of filling is considered extremely stable, safe, and durable. Composite fillings - this type of filling is created from mixing glass or courts fillers into a medium that contains resin. The result is a tooth colored fillings that is also known as the field resin or compress it. This type of filling is ideal for small to moderately sized repairs. Ionomers - tooth colored and translucent materials made of a combination of fine glass powder and acrylic acids are best used near the base or root surfaces of teeth. This type of filling is used in areas of leased chewing pressure because they can fracture easily. Gold alloys - though gold fillings and crowns used to be quite popular, they are not used to much today and less to cover damaged or cavities to molars. Containing combinations of gold and copper, gold alloy fillings are extremely strong and resist wear and tear. Base metal alloys - this type of alloy creates a silvery appearance that is often used to create bridges, dentures and crowns. Indirect composites - this type of material is best utilized in the use of inlay is an online and crowns and a similar to materials used in fillings. These composites are tooth colored, but are more prone to wear and tear as well as discoloration.

Answer 3

my dad was a Navy dentist & he told me these fillings were safe. the people who disagree want many of us to have all our fillings pulled out & new ones put in. think of the money!

Answer 4

Wonderful answer at this link...

http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/amalgam.asp