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
Dr. Matthew Hydeanswered
Dentistry 43 years experience
Most Likely Not: This is very controversial question depending on your point of view. My personal feeling is that the amount of mercury released is too low to be of clinical significance and that amalgam restorations are relatively safe. I mainly use composite restorations however because they have some advantages (cosmetic & functional), but disadvantages as well( decay more easily & may contain bpa).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
2 comments
Dr. Gregory LaMorte commented
Periodontics 44 years experience
It is not about a point of view. It is about science.
Jun 22, 2013
Dr. Matthew Hyde commented
Dentistry 43 years experience
Provided original answer
The point of view was cosmetics vs function
Sep 13, 2014
Dr. Peter Enganswered
35 years experience
Neither good nor bad: Mercury in amalgam fillings are usually stable when not drilled to remove. But there are cases where a person may be sensitive to the mercury and shows symptoms.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Mokbelanswered
Dentistry 44 years experience
Not Bad: Certain precautions must be taken during the placement and handling of amalgam fillings, once you have the filling placed you should not have any noticeable mercury leaking, it becomes a stable compound. Over the life of your filling some traces of mercury may leak but nothing to compare with the amount you get from eating fish.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Paul Grinanswered
Pain Management 38 years experience
It is good and safe: Most research finds no relationship between fillings and symptoms of mercury poisoning or other side effects. Eventually, any cavity if not treated, can lead to pain, infection, root canal and even tooth loss. See your dentist for evaluation, x-rays and treatment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Peter Karsantanswered
Dentistry 41 years experience
Amalgam: Has been around in dental fillings for a century or more and has no known ill effects despite all the hype. It is neither good or bad for you. A better material is composite because it releases Fluoride and makes the tooth almost as strong as it was before the decay. Amalgam just fills the hole.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Paul Grinanswered
Pain Management 38 years experience
If not broken why: fix it? Most research finds no relationship between fillings and symptoms of mercury poisoning or other side effects. Eventually, any cavity if not treated, can lead to pain, infection, root canal and even tooth loss. See your dentist for evaluation, x-rays and treatment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
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 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
Last updated May 7, 2016
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