Owensboro Dentist | KY |

Dental amalgam is the term used to describe the metallic fillings that dentist have been using for some 150 years. It is composed primarily of silver, copper, tin and mercury.  

Dental amalgam is probably still the best direct restorative material; by direct I mean that it is made and placed in the dental office in a single visit. It is easy to use, inexpensive, hard, extremely durable, and long lasting, thereby making it the material of choice for "back teeth" such as molars and premolars.  

Although gold may be superior, it requires a dental laboratory to fabricate the restoration (indirect) and is considerably more expensive.  

Another material which is gaining popularity is dental ceramic or porcelain, since it is more aesthetic, thereby satisfying the ever increasing demand for tooth colored restorations.

The American Dental Association gives full support to the use of amalgam and opposes the replacement of amalgam fillings solely based on the fact that they contain mercury.

Amalgam has been making headlines recently due to its mercury content. However, Scientists have yet to find sustainable evidence that links dental amalgam to any specific disease.

This scientific assessment is shared by most medical and dental researchers around the world. The American Dental Association gives full support to the use of amalgam and oppose the replacement of amalgam fillings solely based on the fact that they contain mercury.  

Dental amalgam is  still the best direct restorative material; by direct I mean that it is made and placed in the dental office in a single visit.

However, if you do not wish to use amalgam for your future restorations there are optional materials available. As mentioned earlier, gold and porcelain can be used as indirect materials, however composite resins (white fillings) have become the material of choice when an alternative to amalgam is required.  

Remember that although this material is more aesthetically pleasing, it is not as hard and durable as amalgam, and cannot be used in every situation where an amalgam would be used.

Furthermore it is generally more expensive and will need to be replaced more frequently. 

Every year dental companies are improving composite resins, thereby placing composite resins at the forefront, as the future material to replace dental amalgam.

Remember that every situation requires an assessment to determine what materials to use, and only your dentist is qualified to make that particular decision.