FDA Approval of Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam (metal) fillings have been used for many years to repair cavities and damaged teeth. You’re probably familiar with the silver color of the fillings and have heard them called “silver fillings”. Amalgam is made up of a mixture of metals. These include liquid mercury and a powdered alloy consisting of silver, tin, and copper. In recent years there has been some concern about the safety of using mercury in amalgam fillings. But this type of filling has a long track record of being safe and effective.
FDA Issues Final Regulation on Dental Amalgam
On July 28, 2009 the FDA issues a final regulation on dental amalgam. The press release stated, “While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.” The amount of elemental (liquid) mercury contained in fillings used by today’s dentists poses no threat to your health.
When your dentist mixes the elemental mercury with the powdered alloy the materials bind together and become a strong and durable substance to fill cavities and help repair teeth. Amalgam has been used safely for over 150 years by millions of people around the world. This is a proven track record of not only its effectiveness, but of the overall safety of this type of fillings.
Benefits of Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings offer many benefits. They are very durable, can be used in a broad range of applications, wear and corrosion resistant, have a long track record of performance, offer ease of application, minimal placement time, and an economical choice for repairing and filling teeth. Your dentist can place an amalgam filling in one visit, and it takes much less time than resin or ceramic fillings to apply.
While it does not match your natural tooth color, it is used in many cases for molars since it is more durable than resin or ceramic. Amalgam withstands chewing and is a good choice for patients who grind their teeth. This type of filling can be placed in difficult areas of the mouth, and does not need to be applied to dry teeth. This makes application much easier and faster than other types of fillings. Amalgam fillings are as durable as gold filling, but cost much less money.
If you have any questions about amalgam fillings, or any questions about your oral health, please call us at 512-263-7896 or contact us today. At Lakepointe Dental we want you to have the best smile possible and we’re here to serve you.