Dangers of Amalgam Dental Fillings
Some traces of mercury can harm your body, although some dental offices still use amalgam fillings because they believe mercury is safe in the mouth even though it’s illegal to dispose of amalgam fillings down the drain, toilet or in a trash can. It’s known that mercury is one of the toxic elements on earth. Silver fillings consist of 50% mercury mixed with other metals to create amalgam. Would you want this toxic substance in your mouth?
Mercury poisoning can cause early symptoms such as memory problems, anxiety, mood changes, depression, and physical tremors. In later stages, people can experience muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, lack of motor skills, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Usually, mercury poisoning develops slowly over time if there is constant contact with the substance, like dental fillings.
Several countries have banned amalgam in fillings due to the risks it poses. When a dentist places metal fillings in your mouth, its vapor can not only harm you but a developing fetus or child in addition to the dentist. The health risks are simply not worth the result.
Disadvantages of Metal Fillings
Not only are metal fillings dangerous to the body, but they also have other disadvantages such as fracturing a tooth when encountering temperature changes. For example, when you drink a cold drink, your tooth naturally shrinks as a response. Metal fillings however, don’t. This means when your tooth shrinks and your filling doesn’t, the filling becomes too large and can thus crack or damage your tooth. The opposite reaction occurs when consuming something hot. Your filling then becomes too small for your tooth, which can cause an increase in tooth sensitivity.
Metal fillings can also loosen and fall out since they don’t bond well to the teeth. They can also leak which can cause tooth decay to reach below the surface of the filling. If your metal filling becomes tarnished, it can permanently stain your teeth, emitting a gray appearance. Lastly, metal fillings look unnatural because they don’t match the color or appearance of your teeth.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
If you need a dental filling placed, we use composite tooth-colored fillings at Massa Dental Center. Not only do these resemble the same color of your tooth, but they pose no risks. They also have more strength and expand and retract at the same time as your tooth when you come into contact with hot or cold substances. You can feel confident knowing your dental fillings provide your teeth with as much strength as possible. As an added bonus, composite fillings are much better for the environment!
Replace Amalgam Fillings
If you want to replace your amalgam fillings, we’re happy to help. Whether you want to avoid the harmful risks of mercury or enhance the appearance of your teeth with tooth-colored fillings, our dentists at Massa Dental Center are happy to provide you with a holistic solution. Our fillings, bridges, crowns, veneers, and other restorations are all made of safe tooth-colored material.
If you would like to learn more about dental fillings in Naples, FL or replacing your metal fillings, please contact our dental office to schedule an appointment. You can reach us via our online contact form or by calling (239) 597-7333 today.
