Mercury Fillings

Chances are you have heard of the controversy surrounding mercury amalgam fillings. Some people claim that mercury in your teeth can lead to allergic reactions or other, more serious, health problems. Some countries have gone so far as to ban dentists from using amalgam fillings.

So what are the facts? Amalgam fillings consist of 50% mercury (the rest being made up of silver, zinc, and copper). And while it is undeniably true that mercury vapors are released from these fillings during chewing, what is less certain is whether these vapors are harmful. There is no conclusive proof that the presence of mercury is responsible for any health problems, but we do know that there is a correlation between the number of amalgam fillings in the mouth and the levels of mercury in body tissues.

The truth is, nobody can tell you for sure whether mercury amalgam fillings will affect your health. But we can tell you this for sure: ceramic fillings don’t release vapor of any kind, they don’t leak, are more durable, and they look great, too.

We recognize that many of our patients are concerned about this issue, so we make it a point to offer alternatives to mercury-based fillings. Our primary goal, as always, is to offer the latest, proven, most effective dental procedures available, and to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.