Amalgam Filling

Amalgam fillings are also defined as silver fillings. Amalgam; It is obtained by mixing silver, tin and copper alloy with mercury. Mercury creates a durable filling material by binding metals together. They have a history of 150 years. Is the mercury in amalgam harmful to the body? The mercury in amalgam filling is not toxic. When mercury combines with other metals, its chemical structure changes and becomes harmless. The amount of mercury released in the mouth as a result of the use of amalgam filling is much smaller than the amount taken in water, air and food. However, care should be taken when removing and replacing the fillings, and work with a powerful aspirator.

Why dentists prefer or not amalgam fillings? Amalgam is the long-lasting and cheapest filling material. Compared to other filling materials, they can be applied in a much shorter time and easily. Application procedures are much easier than adhesive systems. However, the development of adhesive systems, the ease of use of composite fillings in the back areas that receive a lot of chewing force, and the success of composite fillings in the front areas where aesthetic expectation is high have limited the use of amalgam fillings today. Also nowadays; The fact that composite fillings, which adhere not only mechanically but also chemically, do not need to remove more material from the tooth as in amalgam fillings, and can make very successful and aesthetic fillings with minimal material loss have removed dentists and patients from amalgam fillings. Amalgam filling may cause discoloration in the teeth over the years, its surface can be damaged by chemical and electrical reactions, a current may occur between amalgam fillings and saliva and create a battery or metal taste in the mouth. Amalgam should also not be used in those who have a certain allergy to mercury.

What the patient should pay attention to after amalgam filling: Patients should be asked not to use the application side for at least one hour and not to chew hard things in that area by being careful within the following 24 hours. After 24 hours, the patient should be given a second appointment for polishing. Life of amalgam filling? There are many factors that determine the life of amalgam filling. Factors such as the amount of substance loss in the tooth, the area where the decay is located, whether the patient pays attention to oral hygiene determine the life of the filling. Is the amalgam filling removed? Because it both brings unnecessary expenses and increases the possibility of damaging the tooth. In addition, the only risk of amalgam fillings related to mercury is the risk of patient aspiration during removal. For all these reasons, the amalgam fillings should not be removed unless necessary. My amalgam filling has fallen, what should I do? The person who has fallen amalgam filling should prevent the falling piece from getting into the throat or remaining in the mouth. When the filling falls off, there are risks such as pain and breaking of the unsupported parts of the tooth, and the filling should be renewed by going to the dentist to eliminate these risks as soon as possible.

Does amalgam fillings cause bad breath?