Mercury Safe and Mercury Free Dentistry
Mercury in Traditional Dental Fillings
Silver amalgam has served as the dominant dental filling material for more than a hundred years, with over 100 million Americans having received these restorations. Given how widespread their use has been — and continues to be, with 47% of dentists still placing them — one might reasonably expect them to carry no health concerns. However, amalgam fillings are composed of approximately 50% mercury, a substance for which no safe level of human exposure has been established. The toxic effects associated with mercury have led several countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, to prohibit the use of amalgam fillings entirely.
Dentistry Minus the Mercury
Mercury vapor is released from silver amalgam fillings through the ordinary mechanical action of chewing, with daily exposure estimates ranging from 2 to 20 micrograms. This release is elevated in individuals who frequently chew gum, consume carbonated beverages, or experience bruxism. Prolonged accumulation of mercury in the body has been associated with a range of health concerns, including tremors, insomnia, headaches, nerve damage, respiratory failure, and kidney problems.
Replacing silver fillings with a biocompatible material can help prevent these problems from developing or progressing, though improper removal technique may result in greater mercury exposure than leaving the fillings in place. Dentists who follow mercury-safe and mercury-free protocols apply established procedures designed to minimize exposure during removal, and the replacement restorations they place contain no mercury.
Get Mercury Safe and Mercury Free Filling Replacements at First Choice Dental of NJ
Here at First Choice Dental of NJ, we follow mercury-safe dental procedures to remove and replace silver fillings safely, and we offer new fillings that you can feel confident in. If you want to learn more about mercury in dental fillings and why you might want to get your silver fillings replaced, just give us a call at 856-424-7477 or email us.