When a product or technology has been around for as long as amalgam fillings, it is easy to put your trust in it versus something new, regardless of how impressive it may seem. Amalgams, or, silver fillings, as they are called, have been used for over one hundred years and they reside in the mouths of millions of people. When you received your restorative treatment, it is likely you were not told that mercury would constitute a large portion of your filling however, this toxic substance makes up 50 percent of the weight of an amalgam filling, binding with other metals to form one solid piece.

Many dentists, as well as the American Dental Association stand behind the safety and efficiency of amalgam fillings. This material is viewed as the most affordable, and is said to be extremely durable, although many patients require subsequent dental work to repair a tooth fractured by an amalgam filling. Choosing silver dental fillings may save you money initially, but it could produce significant risk to your smile and to your health, as studies are finding.

When you consider that our teeth are living organs in an intricate system, it makes sense that what goes into the mouth has a direct path to other areas of the body. From the tooth, mercury vapors seep into surrounding tissues and subsequently travel through the blood and lymph systems to other organs such as the brain and kidneys. These toxic vapors, which are released when chewing, are also inhaled. Although certain health organizations state that science shows mercury levels of an amalgam-laden person to exist well below harmful levels, there are multiple other studies that show a link between amalgam and:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Increase in or worsening of allergies
• Metabolic disturbances
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Breaks in DNA strands

To address whole-body health, we offer various biocompatible materials for dental fillings in our Williamsburg practice. Tooth-colored composite resin, for example, will restore form and function to a damaged tooth without any of the concerns that are associated with amalgam. To discover your best mercury-free option, call us at 757-349-8877 and schedule your visit at Evans Dental Care.