Amalgam Fillings

The term amalgam fillings in layman’s terms is silver fillings.

 

Composition: A mixture of silver, tin, zinc, copper and mercury.

Longevity: At least seven years, usually longer if you have good oral hygiene and visit your dentist and hygienist regularly.

Cost: This is the least expensive type of restorative (filling) material.

Advantages:

1. Amalgam fillings are strong and can withstand chewing forces well.
2. They are cost effective.
3. An amalgam filling can be finished in one dental visit.

Disadvantages:

1. They are not cosmetically appealing as the material does not match the color of your teeth.
2. These fillings do not stick to your tooth so your dentist must make undercuts or ledges in your teeth so your fillings stay in place. Healthy tooth structure must be removed to make an area large enough to hold an amalgam filling.
3. Amalgam fillings tarnish over time causing discoloration where the tooth and filling meet.
4. There has been controversy over the mercury in amalgam fillings, although research shows that the amount of mercury exposure from fillings is similar to what people get from other sources in the environment.