Dr Laurence McCarthy

Are Silver Fillings A Bad Idea?

In Beauty & Fashion by Laurence McCarthy0 Comments

Over the last few years there has been a lot of negative discussion regarding the use of dental amalgam such as the silver fillings that dentists use to restore decayed or broken teeth. It is obvious that these fillings are not as aesthetically pleasing as the tooth coloured materials such as composite or glass ionomer cements but they have been used for over a hundred years and in certain clinical situations they may be more suitable and last longer.

Is it true that silver fillings contain Mercury?
Yes, mercury is contained within dental amalgam and this is a source of a lot of the negative sentiment that revolves around metallic fillings. However once the filling has set in the tooth, the mercury is contained within metallic compounds and there is no research or evidence to suggest that these fillings result in harmful levels of mercury leaching out and getting into the body.

Should I now have my silver fillings removed?
Generally, I would never recommend replacing metallic fillings unless there is a legitimate dental need to do so. Each time a filling is replaced it results in additional tooth loss and potential trauma to the nerve within the tooth. Therefore I will usually only replace metallic fillings when there is evidence that it is starting to leak or fatigue, when the tooth around the filling has chipped or fractured or when a patient is absolutely adamant that they no longer want them.

Ultimately the decision as to what material is used to restore a tooth is up to each individual patient. Dentists will generally offer their opinion as to which material they think is most suitable for a given clinical situation. It is definitely worth having this discussion with a dentist so that an informed decision can be made that is based on facts.

Dr Laurence McCarthy is an honours graduate of the University of Sydney and works at Gordon Dental. For more information contact Gordon Dental on 9498 3811 or email drmccarthy@gordondental.com.