In 2008, Charlie Brown, on behalf of Moms Against Mercury, sued the FDA for its failure to classify (determine the risk of) dental amalgam. While its position was initially that "dental amalgam is a commonly used device with a low risk of adverse events reported to the agency" (based on a review of over 200 scientific articles and relevant abstracts), a lawsuit from Charlie Brown and Consumers for Dental Choice (previously Moms Against Mercury) led to significant changes in the FDA’s website. The position of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the safety of mercury fillings is a little more complex. This is supported by a review concluding that "studies continue to support the position that dental amalgam is a safe restorative option for both children and adults.” The FDA's Position on Mercury Fillings The ADA states that "scientific evidence supports the position that amalgam is a valuable, viable and safe choice for dental patients". These studies have informed the respective positions of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Studies from all over the world support the idea that the use of mercury-containing dental amalgam is safe for most people. In contrast to gold fillings, dental amalgam fillings only take one visit to place and can last for 10-15 years or more. When the elemental mercury-also known as metallic mercury-is mixed with a powder made from the other metals in the amalgam, the mixture self-seals and hardens. This way, the amalgam can be pressed into the teeth more easily to fill the exact shape of each cavity without the need for a follow-up visit. The reason that mercury is used in fillings is that it helps make the mixture pliable. Dental amalgam fillings account for around 75% of fillings placed worldwide. The combination of metals used in dental amalgam fillings generally includes mercury, silver, tin, and copper, with mercury making up around half of the mix. These dental fillings are made from a combination of metals, called amalgam. When we talk about mercury fillings, what we are really talking about are “mercury amalgam” fillings. If you have mercury fillings, are considering having mercury fillings placed for the first time, or need to get your mercury fillings replaced, understanding the benefits and risks of dental amalgam will help you to make an informed choice. However, some people choose to replace their mercury fillings with porcelain fillings for cosmetic reasons, because their fillings are no longer effective, because of pain from galvanic shock, or because of legitimate (but rare) allergic reactions. So are silver fillings safe?Įncouragingly, most scientific research finds little relationship between silver fillings and symptoms of actual mercury poisoning. Millions of people have so-called “silver” fillings in their mouths, but is mercury poisoning from fillings a risk? In recent years, the use of mercury in dental amalgam has caused much outcry because of the toxicity associated with mercury as a substance.
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