What’s wrong with silver fillings?
An amalgam (silver filling) is composed of 50% MERCURY and other heavy metal, anad has been banned for use in fillings in England, Germany and Sweden. It has also been banned in Canada for use in pregnant and all children.
Current research (Leinfelder, K. “Changing Status Inlay/Onlay Systems”, Esthetic Dentistry Update, Vol. 7, No. 1, Feb. 1996) shows that composite restorations wear equal to or less than amalgams.
The latest generation of Class II composite materials have proven to wear “as well or better” than amalgams (10 year study by Dr. Gordon J. Christensen, Clinical Research Associates, Provo, UT).
The ADA in a recent court case (Superior Court, State of California: case#718228) has disavowed any implied endorsement of silver-mercury amalgam restorations, and denied any legal responsibility for the potential adverse effects from the use of dental amalgam.
Amalgams only “plug the hole” they do not reinforce the tooth or strengthen it in any way. Composite bonds to enamel and dentine with a bond strength of 20-25 Mpa which is similar to the bond between the enamel and dentine layers of a natural tooth, i.e. composite strengthens the tooth and the helps prevent its fracture.
The leading clinicians in our field (Drs. Wm. Strupp, Gordon Christensen, Ross, Nash, Wm. Dickerson, Raymond Bertolotti, Larry Rosenthal and many others) all support research which shows that expansion and inherent weakness of aging amalgams cause teeth to fracture and therefore need crowns, root canals or both.
The teeth involved were all amalgams at least 10 to 15 years in age, showing numerous fracture lines in the remaining enamel. Removal of the amalgams frequently showed fracture lines in the pulpal floor, due to the unsupportive nature if amalgam restorations and recurrent decay under the restoration which was not visible in X-ray. Placement of another amalgam would have resulted in possible fracture of the tooth, pain, endodontic and/or crown procedures.
The only alternative treatment for the large, undetermined and unsupported crusps of the involved teeth would be crowns and core buildups, at considerably larger expenses to the patient.
Amalgam (sliver filling) material is 100 plus year old technology. There are far better materials to use to restore teeth to their full function and beauty, namely the latest.
Class II composites (both direct and in direct).
