Why Are Some Fillings Bad for Our Health?

Over the past several decades, there has been a lot of controversy over amalgam fillings, more commonly known as silver fillings. These fillings are made of a combination of different metals, including silver, tin, copper, and mercury. Of the materials that are used in these fillings, mercury is undoubtedly what causes people to second guess getting an amalgam filling, and for good reason. The very small amounts of mercury that are present in our air, water, soil, and food are typically fine for humans to come in contact with, but exposure to large amounts of mercury can lead to symptoms including headache, tremors, irritability, memory loss and decreased cognitive function.

Mercury in Amalgam Fillings

So why is mercury used in amalgam fillings if the risks are so high? Mercury helps the other materials in the filling become pliable and easy to work with, and it also helps the filling harden quickly and remain durable. However, many patients feel the potential dangers of amalgam fillings outweigh the possible benefits, and they are not comfortable with mercury being placed in their teeth. Composite fillings, or tooth-colored fillings, are often preferred because they don’t utilize mercury and they also blend in with the teeth, offering a more cosmetically pleasing appearance.

Visit Us for Safe, Composite Fillings

At Dental Solutions of Avon, we only use composite fillings for our patients. We put the safety of our patients above everything else, and our team would never unnecessarily expose them to mercury when there are safer alternatives available. Another benefit of using tooth-colored fillings is that less of the tooth has to be drilled for the filling to be applied, so more of the natural tooth is allowed to remain. If you find yourself in a situation where you need a tooth filled, we highly recommend going with a composite, tooth-colored filling. If you have any questions or concerns about fillings or our composite filling services, please get in touch with our office. Our team will be happy to help you take care of your tooth decay safely and effectively.