Dental amalgam fillings are one of the most durable and robust treatments for tooth cavities. It is also known as silver amalgam filling or silver fillings; for about 150 years, amalgam fillings have been prevalent because amalgam fillings cost is slightly low, and they are soft enough to remodel to the shape and size of the tooth cavity. But the white amalgam fillings are more expensive than ordinary amalgam fillings.
But, according to recent studies, amalgam tooth fillings have some possible harmful effects because mercury and other composition exposure can cause severe health effects in the human body. So the use of amalgam fillings for teeth has been decreasing because it does not stick to the tooth’s surface. Are you also looking for the dangers of amalgam filling? You should keep reading this article to get the best answers to your queries and the best alternative type you can use.
Amalgam fillings for teeth are a composition of one part elemental mercury and one part of silver, copper, tin, or other metals. In the amalgam fillings procedure, the paste-like dental amalgam is set on the tooth and firmly pressed to fill the tooth cavity and make the tooth as strong as possible. There is about 50% of mercury in every amalgam filling.
Recently, dental amalgam has been declining day by day because of its possible severe side reactions. The dentist reduces the use of amalgam and composite tooth fillings because of the danger of mercury exposure and the development of composite fillings that are more durable, strong, and do not require more drilling. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also banned its use because of the amalgam filling side effects.
In past years, amalgam fillings were the first way to treat tooth cavities because they lasted for approximately 10 to 15 years; however, some dental amalgams also lasted for up to 20 to 25 years.
There are different types of mercury, such as elemental mercury, inorganic mercury, and methyl mercury. Elemental mercury and methyl mercury are the most toxic for the human body, which can cause side reactions that may be severely harmful to the nervous system and the brain. Following are the risk of amalgam fillings leaking symptoms.
Defective mental function
Loss in coordination
Sleeping difficulty
Muscle stiffness and weakness
Headache
Issues with peripheral vision
Impaired movement, hearing, and speech
Irritability
Mood swings
Memory problem
Depression, anxiety
Numbness
Sensation in hands and feets
As discussed above, amalgam filling has severe side effects, so dentists eliminate their use. Exposure to mercury and other metals can cause harmful effects on the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. These filings are very dangerous for children, pregnant women, and people with diabetes.
Amalgam filling side effects are:
Mercury is toxic, and exposure to it can damage the cells of the nerves and cause severe damage to the nervous system.
Amalgam filling dangers include the damage to organs like the brain and kidneys.
The exposure of mercury turns into vapor which is very toxic for the human body and can cause neurobehavioral changes.
Yes, amalgam fillings can be removed, and only specialist dentists can do this job well. Non-specialized dentists can increase removing amalgam filling’s side effects. It can also cause the dangers of removing amalgam fillings because the removal process can cause damage to the tooth structure. But to eliminate the risk of mercury exposure, you ask your dentist to remove it safely.
You can adopt amalgam fillings replacement as its alternative, which has slightly lower side effects than mercury fillings. Following are the safe alternatives of dental amalgam fillings, which you can ask your dentist to fill your tooth cavity.
Porcelain is made of silicon and oxygen, which have fewer side effects.
Composite Resin Fillings are the most favorable alternative to mercury fillings made of acrylic resin.
Glass Ionomer made of silicate glass powder.
Resin Ionomer is a composition of glass powder and acrylic resin.
Dental amalgam fillings have many severe side reactions because mercury and other composition exposure can damage human organs incredibly. So it is better to adopt an alternative which has less danger than it. The amalgam fillings replacement to its alternative is safer because they are not toxic.
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