Replacing mercury fillings with white fillings
Can you believe that those silver-coloured fillings called ‘amalgam’ have been around since 1812? They were created by the British chemist, Joseph Bell, more than 200 years ago! Amalgam is a specific mixture of metals. It consists of liquid mercury and a powdered alloy of silver, tin, and copper. They bind together to form a putty, which quickly sets. After being positioned in the cavity, it’s quickly set to form a strong filling.
Many people request to replace older amalgam fillings with white fillings, often for aesthetic reasons. Modern practices typically use composite or porcelain materials, which are durable and blend with tooth colour.
Safety issue
The issue that concerns many people is the health risk of leaking mercury from the silver fillings. However, the mercury of the amalgam is bound together to the tin and copper, so once it’s set, there’s no liquid mercury present anymore. Amalgam doesn’t pose a health risk. It’s safe for adults, as well as children who are six and over.
The weight of evidence doesn’t establish any association between amalgam and adverse health effects. If old amalgam fillings are intact and without decay beneath them, removal is usually not necessary, as doing so may result in unnecessary loss of tooth structure.
Having said that, there are many who argue that the mercury should be removed. I respect their opinions and concerns and often carefully replace these fillings.
Current trend for white fillings
Many have their silver fillings replaced because the white fillings are more aesthetically appealing. It’s not attractive to have black fillings in your teeth. But there are other reasons why silver mercury fillings are not used anymore.
With advancements in technology, dentists have more aesthetic materials on offer, such as composite resin and porcelain, which now last as long if done properly.
In the EU, silver mercury fillings are not being manufactured anymore because the process causes pollution. I expect that Australia would follow suit in time.
Dental aesthetics
For many clients, their silver fillings are starting to break down as they come to the end of their longevity. This simply means that the interface between the filling and the tooth is starting to separate. There are gaps occurring, and this allows bacteria to get into that space and create a potential cavity.
So it’s not the mercury that’s leaking — it’s just the fillings breaking down. I don’t suggest replacing amalgam due to the fear of mercury poisoning but if the client wishes to replace them for aesthetic reasons then your Melbourne dentist may replace them for aesthetic reasons or when they begin to fail..
No urgency
There’s no real urgency in getting the old amalgam’s filling replaced unless the silver filling is not doing the job it was designed to do. Most importantly, it’s safe to know that you’re not going to be poisoned by them.
So the take-home message here is that the best filling is no filling at all! That’s what we should all be working towards.
NEXT: Why a dental check-up matters
About Dr Shawn Rama
Dr Shawn Rama is the Principal Dentist and Founder of The Dental Room, with more than 20 years of experience in general and aesthetic dentistry. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003 and has undertaken further training in aesthetic dentistry, complex restorative dentistry and dental implants. Dr Shawn is also an accredited Invisalign® Platinum Provider and a member of the Australian Dental Association. He founded The Dental Room in Balwyn North in 2016, creating a boutique practice centred around personalised, considered dental care.
