Did you know that silver fillings have more mercury in them than silver? The actual material is called silver amalgam. They have some silver in them, some copper, some zinc, and they are about half mercury.

Is the mercury in amalgam fillings toxic?

For years, some dentists like myself have been suspect regarding the mercury in these fillings. Recent studies demonstrate small amounts of mercury vapor are released into the mouth when you chew on amalgam fillings. Mercury is a very toxic metal. If mercury is absorbed into the body it is very difficult to eliminate. More and more patients are choosing to avoid the possible risks and have composite fillings instead. At the Sharp Smile Center, we have avoided placing mercury fillings for over 20 years. For more information go to our page on composite fillings.

Here is a photograph of an old silver-mercury amalgam filling that has begun to corrode and crack. These old amalgam fillings can easily be replaced with mercury-free composite.

Besides being mercury-free, composite fillings have several other advantages. They bond to the tooth to help seal out recurrent decay, they strengthen rather than weaken the tooth, and they look much nicer. If you have old amalgam fillings that are beginning to leak and crack, consider having them replaced with beautiful composite fillings. Dr. Sharp is a mercury-free dentist who places composite fillings instead of mercury-containing amalgams.