The Truth About Silver Fillings

Silver fillings (a.k.a. amalgams) are made of alloy that usually contains combinations of silver, copper, tin and mercury. It’s this last ingredient, mercury, that for years has concerned the general public, and mostly the issue has to do with a story that ran in the New York Times in 2003. The story reported that a United Nations environmental conference in Kenya called for a worldwide crackdown on mercury pollution, listing various sources, including silver fillings, which the story said exposes humans to the highly toxic heavy metal.

Since then, there have been claims that the mercury in amalgam causes everything from autism, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis to all sorts of neurological disorders, which by all valid accounts is simply not true. Many heavy hitters—including the American Dental Association, Alzheimer’s Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Autism Society of America and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society—back the scores of studies and data that conclude there is no scientific evidence of a connection between neurological disorders or other diseases and the use of amalgam. Nor does the removal of silver fillings affect these conditions. The reason amalgam is used is because it’s a durable and affordable material. The material has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans.

So, how can something containing mercury be safe? Good question with a relatively simple answer. There are many elements that by themselves are toxic; however, when combined with certain other elements, become inert. Chloride by itself, for example, in liberal enough quantities is deadly. Combine it with just the right ratio of sodium, however, and it becomes sodium chloride—table salt. The mercury in silver fillings is not harmful because the mercury is transformed in the process of making an alloy much like sodium and chloride are completely transformed when combined to make table salt. The mercury binds chemically to the other metals to make a stable alloy.

For questions about dentures, dental implants, periodontal disease or general dentistry, call The Ferber Dental Group a 561-439-8888 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com.