A 47-year-old member asked:
Why do dentists use mercury to do amalgam fillings?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Keith Grimmanswered
Dentistry 27 years experience
"Ingredients": Mercury is one of the metals contained in the alloy of amalgam fillings. There is some controversy over whether or not is is released from the amalgam; however, nothing has ever been clincally proven to be harmful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jeffrey Buxtonanswered
15 years experience
They are safe.: Mercury helps to keep the dental amalgam in a state where it can be manipulated when placed into your tooth. The metal then hardens giving you a solid structure to protect and seal your tooth from further decay.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 47-year-old member asked:
Why is it that we need to use mercury for amalgam fillings?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Charles Lockhartanswered
Dentistry 11 years experience
Binder: Because the resulting chemical compound binds the different metals in silver fillings together. There are still no studies that show them to be detrimental and they are cost friendly for the service that they give.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
When should I remove mercury amalgam fillings?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Merrettanswered
Dentistry 31 years experience
Remove mercury fill: You should removed the mercury amalgam filings when they are starting breakdown. If they have recurrent decay underneath them, or if you have a sensitivity to metals. I would suggest replacing them with something other than amalgam, but that is my personal opinion.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
What are the dangers of having mercury amalgam fillings?
9 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jonathan Engelanswered
Dentistry 41 years experience
Depends: It all depends on where you want to go with this. If you want to say there are dangers you can find lots of studies on line to verify it. The danger of mercury is well documented, whether or not it can leach from a filling and cause an issue is where the controversy is. My personal take is that if 1% of what they say is true then they are bad. I feel we have better alternatives in dentistry.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Is the mercury in amalgam fillings potentially dangerous for you?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bruce Apfelbaumanswered
Dentistry 53 years experience
I don't think so: I don't believe it is. Do a study for yourself & stand on a corner & see if anyone that passes by has at least one mercury amalgam filling in their mouth. You might find that 9 out if 10 will have at least 1 of these metal fillings in their mouth. Then ask yourself how are all these people walking around appearing healthy with all those type of fillings in their mouth.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Can mercury in amalgam fillings good or bad for you?
7 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Zweiganswered
Prosthodontics 47 years experience
Neither: Mercury in amalgam fillings is basically inert. It is not bad for you, but a good material to restore teeth.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 2, 2013
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