Silver amalgam is a popular dental filling that has been used extensively worldwide for over 200 years. Almost everyone has one or two amalgam fillings in his or her teeth and up to 100 million amalgam restorations are placed in decayed teeth every year.

“The American Dental Association (ADA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and numerous public health agencies say amalgams are safe, and that any link between mercury-based fillings and disease is unfounded. The causes of autism, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis remain unknown. Additionally, there is no solid, scientific evidence to back up the claim that if a person has amalgam fillings removed, he or she will be cured of these or any other diseases,” said WebMD.Com and the Cleveland Clinic Department of Dentistry.

While amalgam fillings are safe, cheap and easy to use, they do have certain disadvantages. First, they don’t match the natural color of teeth which some people find disturbing. Healthy parts of the tooth must also be destroyed to accommodate this type of filling.

Amalgam can likewise discolor teeth and some people are allergic to them. What’s more, they crack and fracture easily.

“Allergic reactions to silver fillings are rare. Fewer than 100 cases have ever been reported, according to the ADA. In these rare circumstances, mercury or one of the metals used in an amalgam restoration is thought to trigger the allergic response. Symptoms of amalgam allergy are similar to those experienced in a typical skin allergy and include skin rashes and itching. Patients who suffer amalgam allergies typically have a medical or family history of allergies to metals. Once an allergy is confirmed, another restorative material can be used,” revealed the editors of WebMD.Com and the Cleveland Clinic Department of Dentistry.

This leads us to the next option: tooth-colored composite fillings which are also called white or plastic fillings. These are made of powdered glass and plastic resin.

On the plus side, composite fillings match the natural color of teeth and are often used to repair front teeth or other visible areas of the teeth. They chemically bond to the tooth structure, giving extra support to the tooth. Aside from this, composite fillings can be used to repair chipped, broken or worn teeth.

“Besides the aesthetic advantage of composite fillings over amalgam fillings, the preparation of composite fillings requires less removal of tooth structure to achieve adequate strength. This is because composite resins bind to enamel (and dentin too, although not as well) via a micromechanical bond. As conservation of tooth structure is a key ingredient in tooth preservation, many dentists prefer placing composite instead of amalgam fillings whenever possible,” said the editors of Wikipedia.

But these advantages come with a price. Composite fillings are more expensive than amalgam fillings but aren’t as strong as the latter. They also take longer to place and require additional dental visits.

“Composite fillings wear out sooner than amalgams (lasting at least 5 years compared with at least 10 to 15 for amalgams); in addition, they may not last as long as amalgams under the pressure of chewing and particularly if used as the filling material for large cavities,” said WebMD.Com and the Cleveland Clinic Department of Dentistry. (Next: The lowdown on dental fillings.)

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