Amalgam Fillings Are Really Mercury Fillings
Metal/mercury amalgam fillings are often referred to by various names, such as amalgam or “silver” fillings. While they do contain silver, their main component—making up about 50% by weight—is mercury. This mercury is combined with different metal powders to create a stiff, malleable substance that is placed into your tooth. Over time, it hardens into a durable block of material. If you’re seeking alternative options, a San Jose dentist can help guide you through other materials that may better suit your dental needs.
Toxic Effects of Mercury Exposure
Mercury is one of the most toxic elements known. When people are exposed to it, they experience nerve damage, starting with the peripheral nerves. This leads to numbness, itching, and burning pain. You might experience an elevated heart rate. More severe exposure leads to muscle dysfunction, eventually to madness, paralysis, and death.
You might also notice difficulty speaking, loss of peripheral vision, and damaged hearing. Skin discoloration and peeling can also develop in relation to exposure.
Mercury Doesn’t Stay in Fillings
One argument that is sometimes used to defend the use of mercury fillings it’s locked in the fillings. This is not true. There are several mechanisms by which it can exit the fillings.
First, it is a liquid metal, and it can evaporate, creating vapor in the mouth that is then inhaled. As a liquid, it is also able to seep through the tooth material. This not only discolors your tooth, it allows mercury to reach the bloodstream via the tooth pulp. Finally, chemical reactions in the mouth create an electric current similar to a battery. As part of the corrosion that occurs, it can be liberated from your fillings.
Experiments with sheep have shown that it only takes a few months for mercury to spread to the entire body, with the highest concentrations found in the kidney and liver. Pregnant sheep also showed that it passed into the fetus, concentrating in the liver and pituitary gland, which has a central role in development. Tests of both sheep and human breast milk showed that mercury could be found there as well and that the concentration levels related to the presence of metal fillings.
Why Mercury Fillings Should Be Removed with Care
The presence of mercury in dental fillings is a significant health concern, not just for patients but also for dental teams. Mercury is known for its toxic properties, and there is a growing consensus in the health community that no level of mercury exposure is entirely safe. This is especially true in the dental setting, where the removal of mercury fillings, if not done correctly, can expose both patients and dental professionals to mercury vapor and particulate matter.
The process of removing amalgam fillings can release mercury vapor, which can be inhaled by both the patient and the dental team. This exposure can lead to health risks, given mercury’s potential to cause neurological and systemic health problems. Therefore, it’s crucial to remove mercury fillings in a manner that minimizes mercury exposure.
At our practice, we adhere to strict protocols for the safe removal of amalgam fillings to protect everyone involved. This includes the use of rubber dams to isolate the treatment area and prevent particles from being ingested or inhaled, high-volume air filtration to capture mercury vapor and particulate, and appropriate personal protective equipment for the dental team. These measures ensure that the removal process is safe and effective, reducing the risk of mercury exposure and promoting a healthier environment for both patients and staff.
Choosing to have your mercury fillings removed by a dentist who understands and implements these safety measures is crucial. It ensures that the removal process is not only effective in eliminating potential mercury exposure but also safe, preventing any additional exposure during the procedure.
Why Hasn’t Mercury Been Banned?
With all the potential toxic effects of mercury, why hasn’t it been banned? Some argue that it is because of the cost. Mercury fillings are fairly inexpensive and the alternate non-metal restorations can be costly.
But efforts to ban metal fillings are going forward. In 2012, the FDA proposed a partial ban of mercury fillings for children, pregnant women, and people who were vulnerable to mercury poisoning.
An international ban has been developed and proposed. The Minamata Convention proposes that party states should slowly phase out mercury in many applications, including dental amalgam. It has been ratified by 20 nations–including the US–though it doesn’t go into force until ratified by 50 nations.
See a Mercury-Free Dentist in San Jose
If you are concerned about the presence of mercury in your fillings, you don’t have to wait for an official ban. We can provide you with mercury-free fillings, including both composite resin fillings and ceramic inlays and onlays. These restorations are not only mercury-free, they’re more attractive than metal amalgam fillings, and, in some cases, more durable.
We use proper protocols to safely remove your current metal amalgam fillings to protect you from continued exposure. This includes the use of rubber dams and mouth air exhaust to reduce your risk of exposure during the removal of amalgam fillings.
If you would like to learn more about our mercury-free dentist in Los Gatos or San Jose, California, please call (408) 354-5600 for an appointment at Top Down Dental.
