ask: Are composite (white) fillings safer than amalgam (silver) fillings?

Silver fillings or the silver amalgam is a mixture of silver-tin and liquid mercury. The reason it was used for so many years is the durability of the metallic fillings. In most cases, the metallic fillings would last approximately 20 years as long as they were not exposed to a lot of sugar. The problem with the amalgam is mercury.

The Food and Drug Administration indicates that
dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses. When amalgam fillings are placed in teeth or removed from teeth, they release mercury vapor.

Since the 1990s, FDA and other government agencies (CDC, NIH) have reviewed the scientific literature looking for links between dental amalgams and health problems. In September 2006, an advisory panel to the FDA reviewed FDA’s research and heard presentations from the public about the benefits and risks of mercury and amalgam.

You can read the summary of the panel meeting at: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/meetings/090606-summary.html
In addition, a complete transcript is available at: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cdrh06.html#dentalproductspanel

On the other hand composite fillings is a combination of glass/porcelain in a plastic mix. The research on composite fillings indicate that they are completely safe. The American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, The World Health Organization, The Food and Drug Administration, The Alzheimer's Association, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society all agree that these fillings are safe.

The cost per filling range from about $75 to $145 for amalgam and $150 to $200 for composite. In essence, the extra $50-$100, is worth the safety of ourselves and our children.

I had a mouth full of amalgam fillings....key word here is "HAD". I had my dentist remove all of them and replace them with composite (white) fillings. I have to say, I feel so much better having those silver fillings out of my mouth. I can actually taste food without having that metal taste in my mouth all the time. Not alone the worry I was having about getting mercury poisoning.

The other plus is the look of all white teeth. They look so much better without that silver/grey dull look I had in my mouth. But that was the icing on the cake for me...just an added bonus.

I simply had to have them removed because of what I read and learned from others. It scared me to the point of getting them all removed and replaced. No one is more fearful of the dentist then I am. Even though I have the most amazing dentist in Tempe, Az. I still have such anxiety when I go to the dentist.

It took me about 4 visits to get them all out and replaced. It wasn't fun and it wasn't cheap..but it was well worth it. Something for you to seriously consider. I believe my insurance picked up so much per tooth.

If you have dental insurance, I would ask them if they cover all or part of the cost of getting the amalgam out of your mouth and composites put in.

Best in dental health,

Michelle

ps...I've never had one problem with them since having them replaced. It's been over 12 years now.

I am an "old fashioned" dentist (32+ years) who has seen some of the unfortunate side effects of the composite resin ("white") fillings. Did your dentist tell you that they don't last nearly as long as silver amalgam? In many instances it may be as much as double the life for silver compared with white. Also, decay under a white filling may be harder to detect and seems to enlarge much more rapidly than under a silver filling. Why should your care? Because each time a filling must be replaced there is less tooth to support the new restoration. This means that the white-filled tooth is likely to reach the point of needing a crown, root canal or extraction far sooner. Needless to say, the lifetime costs will be substantially greater the more dentistry that is required. I place white fillings, but I think they work best for really small cavities on chewing surfaces and in really clean mouths where sugar is not abused. And did your dentist also forget to mention that some dental composites have known or suspected carcinogens (BPA, a plasticizer found in baby bottles)? Fears about mercury in silver fillings have stimulated special interest groups to lobby the FDA for a ban on amalgam despite the absence of any credible research supporting their claims. And why would they want to see amalgam banned? There's a ton of money in replacing every silver filling, let alone the spinoff business for years to come as mentioned above.

I agree with the dentist above me, but I speak from personal experience. I have both composite and amalgam, and the amount of decay that happens with the white composite is so much more. I've never had a metal taste in my mouth from amalgam nor any issues with decay, but my white composites need re-sealing about every 6 years:( It adds up, especially for a doc student without dental insurance.

Also, I've read up on both and haven't found any research to support amalgam being dangerous. It might not look as pretty, but until there's irrefutable evidence to support it being dangerous, I'm not buying into the hype.