At Stony Brook Dental Care, we use composite fillings instead of amalgam, and we can even replace existing silver prosthetics with our tooth-colored restoration. The reason why we provide these services is that dental amalgam contains mercury, a neurotoxin to which you should have minimal exposure. However, the fact that amalgam fillings have mercury in them is also the reason why dentists carefully plan the removal procedure.
You must know when it is better to keep a silver filling and when it is better to replace it.
Mercury Exposure Caused by Removal
The mercury in amalgam fillings escapes from the restoration over time as vapors. However, this process is slow and gradual. The daily mercury exposure from fillings alone is not enough to cause immediate health problems, which is why the ADA still considers this prosthetic safe to use.
If a perfectly functional silver filling is replaced, the removal process releases more mercury vapors in one moment than what is caused by gradual exposure. In other words, the removal is less healthy than the filling itself if performed without cause. If your silver filling is still working, the safest thing to do is let you keep it for now.
The Filling Is Compromised
The ADA’s measurement of silver fillings and mercury exposure assumes that the restoration is whole and secure. Unfortunately, these fillings can be improperly placed, reducing their structural integrity. Amalgam can lift off the tooth or crack upon exposure to cold drinks unless it is perfectly placed.
If you have an amalgam filling that is broken or separating from the tooth, the mercury exposure is more likely to increase to unhealthy levels. At this time, your filling must be removed and replaced with a composite restoration.
The Tooth Cracks
Silver fillings are not the only vulnerable structure when placed improperly. The teeth they treat are also in danger.
Metal expands and contracts at a much faster rate than enamel and dentin when exposed to extreme temperature changes. Correct amalgam placement prevents this warping from causing harm to a treated tooth at first, but the restoration will warp over time and undo this balance. Older or defectively applied silver fillings will cause the tooth to crack as a result of its expansion and contraction.
The removal of aged or poorly placed amalgam fillings becomes necessary to prevent the tooth from cracking, which can be just as detrimental to your oral health as the mercury is to your systemic health.
Call for Restorative Dentistry in Jeffersontown, KY
Stony Brook Dental Care provides amalgam filling removals in Jeffersontown, Hurstbourne, Douglas Hills, and all nearby communities. We will remove the silver filling when appropriate and replace it with a mercury-free composite filling. For more information about body-safe restorative options, contact us today and schedule your next appointment.