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Amalgam Fillings

Fillings

Fillings are used to fill holes (cavities) that have formed, usually as a result of decay or tooth wear. There are many types of filling, each suitable for different cavities.

Most people have a local anaesthetic injection to completely numb the area while the filling is being done. The numbness can take several hours to wear off.

The decayed and weakened parts of the tooth are removed using small drills and the hole is washed.

If the hole has spread to the side wall of the tooth, a band will be placed around the tooth with a small wedge holding it in place. This ensures that the filling hardens into the correct shape.

To protect the tiny nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth, very thin layers of underlinings, such as resin, are painted inside the hole before the filling material is packed in. The filling will begin to harden during the first few minutes or, for some materials, a blue light is used to make it set within a few seconds.

Sometimes temporary fillings are used where there may not be enough time to do the full treatment, at emergency appointments for example. Temporary fillings can last for quite a long time, but they are not very strong so you must always arrange to have a durable filling placed within a few weeks.

Amalgam fillings

Amalgam fillings are made of a combination of metals including silver, tin, copper and mercury. The advantage of using amalgam is that it's extremely durable and able to withstand the grinding and chewing of the molar teeth over long periods of time.

A silver amalgam filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, etc. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth will be removed and then filled with a silver filling.

There are many types of filling materials available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You and your dentist can discuss the best options for restoring your teeth.Amalgam fillings, along with composite (tooth colored) fillings, are the most widely used today. An amalgam filling is more commonly used in the back teeth since the color is not as aesthetic as a composite filling.

As with most dental restorations, amalgam fillings are not permanent and will someday have to be replaced. They are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting smile.

Reasons for amalgam fillings:

Cracked or broken teeth
Decayed teeth
Worn teeth

Deciding on treatment of Amalgam fillings

Some people have concerns about the safety of amalgam fillings. This is because, in large doses mercury is toxic, but fillings only use very small amounts.

Very small amounts of mercury collect in our bodies from a number of sources including the environment, our food and our amalgam fillings. It's estimated that amalgam fillings account for a sixth of the average daily amount - about nine millionths of a gram.

Extensive research has been done to investigate the effect of amalgam fillings on general health. No harmful effects have been shown, and the World Health Organization supports the continued use of amalgam fillings.

However, dentists take special precautions when removing amalgam fillings, because drilling into the amalgam creates higher levels of mercury vapour. Your dentist uses extra water and suction to minimise the amount of vapour.

Although there is no evidence linking amalgam to birth problems, placing and removing amalgam fillings in pregnant women is generally avoided. If you are or think you may be pregnant you should always tell your dentist so he or she can plan your treatment accordingly.

A very small number of people are allergic to metals in amalgam and may need to have another type of restoration.