Dentistry

Mercury and dental amalgam fillings: Pros and cons

April 14, 2023

Amalgam fillings have been around forever. So why do dental professionals get questions about their safety just about every day?

David R. Rice, DDS, Chief editor

If you’re between the ages of 15 and 100+ and you have fillings, there’s a good chance they’re dental amalgam.

Despite this material being used since the 1800s, dental professionals still get a lot of questions about its relative risk, alternative types of fillings, and the best choice for fillings. This gallery will answer those questions and more.

Other galleries you might be interested in:

How much radiation is in a dental x-ray? You might be surprised

How important is flossing? Straight talk from a dentist

References

1. Dental amalgam fillings. US Food & Drug Administration. February 18, 2021. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/dental-devices/dental-amalgam-fillings

2. Dental amalgam: public health and the environment. California Dental Association. July 2016. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.cda.org/Portals/0/pdfs/policy_statements/issue_amalgam.pdf

About the Author

David R. Rice, DDS | Chief editor

Founder of the nation’s largest student and new-dentist community, igniteDDS, David R. Rice, DDS, travels the world speaking, writing, and connecting today’s top young dentists with tomorrow’s most successful dental practices. He is the editorial director of DentistryIQ and leads a team-centered restorative and implant practice in East Amherst, New York. With 27 years of practice in the books, Dr. Rice is trained at the Pankey Institute, the Dawson Academy, Spear Education, and most prolifically at the school of hard knocks. Contact him at [email protected].