With the growing concern over the safety of mercury levels in certain foods and other products, I’ve received an increasing number of questions from concerned patients about the mercury contained in their dental fillings. These fillings are referred to as amalgam or sometimes silver fillings, but in addition to other metals they are composed of about 50% mercury.

Although the FDA has deemed amalgam fillings to be safe for use in dental fillings, there is still quite a bit of controversy surrounding their safety and the impact they may have on one’s overall health. It is true that trace amounts of mercury vapor do leak out of these amalgam fillings over time. Understandably, this has many patients concerned about the use of this material in their own fillings and especially the safety of amalgam fillings for their children.

The amount of amalgam fillings used has dropped significantly in recent years, but many dentists still choose to use these mercury fillings. Provo Dental Care uses only mercury-free fillings made of tooth-colored composite materials, porcelain or gold. While a tooth-colored filling is aesthetically appropriate for teeth that are visible, gold is a strong and durable filling for back teeth that withstand tremendous amounts of biting pressure.

Amalgam fillings can easily be removed and replaced, often strengthening the tooth to a greater extent than the original amalgam filling. If you have broken fillings or mercury fillings you may want to consider having them replaced.  At Provo our dentists are trained in the specialized procedures necessary to safely remove amalgam fillings. Our procedure rooms are specifically designed to allow for the safe removal and replacement of old amalgam fillings, including air filtering systems that safely vent out any trace of mercury vapors. We follow strict protocols and have 23 years of combined experience replacing mercury with healthier, non-toxic materials. At Provo Dental Care your safety is our top priority.