Are amalgam (silver) fillings safe?
Over the years there has been some concern as to the safety of amalgam (silver) fillings. An amalgam is a blend of copper, silver, tin and zinc, bound by elemental mercury. Dentists have used this blended metal to fill teeth for more than 100 years. The controversy is due to claims that the particles from the mercury can cause a variety of health problems. According to the American Dental Association (ADA) silver fillings are safe and that studies have failed to find any link between silver containing mercury and any medical disorder. Along with the ADA’s position, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization, the FDA, and others support the use of silver fillings as safe, durable, and cost effective. The U.S. Public Health Service says that the only reason not to use silver fillings is when a patient has an allergy to any component of this type of filling. There are numerous options to silver fillings, including composite (tooth-colored), porcelain, and gold fil
