What is an Amalgam filling?
Silver amalgam is an alloy of silver, tin, mercury, copper and zinc. Silver amalgam is most commonly used for fillings on the back teeth, where strength is of utmost importance and the silver color is relatively inconspicuous. Silver amalgam is relatively inexpensive and lasts an average of 14 years. The filling takes almost two weeks to become fully hardened, but you may safely chew on it after six hours. Your teeth may experience some degree of temperature sensitivity for a few days to a week, if the cavity is deep. Some people are concerned about the toxicity of the mercury used in the filling. But in fact, amalgam has been used successively for many years in dentistry and has been tested continuously. There is no evidence showing that it is hazardous to humans. Since amalgam has a dark metal color, the filling is not esthetically pleasing. Until recently, it was the only choice of dental filling material for back teeth.
