Dental amalgam is a type of dental filling material that is used to fill cavities that occur as a result of tooth decay. This material is basically a mixture of different metals that include powdered alloy made of silver, copper and tin, and liquid mercury. Almost half the weight of dental amalgam is due to elemental mercury as its chemical properties bring the entire mixture together.
Dental amalgam fillings are also commonly regarded as “silver fillings” due to their silver-like appearance. However, this term doesn’t correctly explain the materials that amalgam actually contains.
How Do Dentists Conduct Dental Amalgam Fillings?
The dentist first drills the decayed tooth to eliminate any damage, and then proceeds onto shaping the tooth cavity so that the amalgam filling can easily be placed. After this, the dentist combines the liquid elemental mercury and powdered alloy to form the amalgam putty, which is then shaped inside the prepared cavity where it begins to harden into a solid filling.
Benefits of Dental Amalgam
Here are some benefits of dental amalgam fillings.
- They are strong, durable, and much less likely to break than other fillings.
- Amalgam fillings are great for those who are a high risk of tooth decay and have problems with other materials
- They are quite budget-friendly
Potential Risks of Dental Amalgam
The only potential risk that many people are concerned with is that amalgam contains elemental mercury. However, there are no researches that clearly state the harmful effects of amalgam on the body.
Deciding what material you want to use as a filling to treat dental decay is a choice that must be made by you and your dentist. If you’re looking for a dental clinic for teeth fillings or any other dental work, call us.
