When choosing to restore a decayed tooth, the first image that often comes to mind is the silver filling. Silver, or amalgam, fillings were the preferred option for tooth restoration for many years. However, despite the growing demand for aesthetic restorations and the rise of white fillings and ceramic alternatives, dental amalgam is still recommended in many cases.
Recently, there has been increased attention on the future of amalgam fillings in dentistry. New regulations have been announced to reduce mercury use and its environmental impact. This has led to the announcement that dental amalgam restorations will be phased out.
This announcement has left many patients with existing dental amalgam restorations wondering whether these restorations are safe and if they should be replaced. The short answer to these questions is that dental amalgam restorations are completely safe, and you should consider replacing them only if they are failing.
To provide a better understanding of the dental amalgam phase-out, the team at Dulwich Dental Office explains in this blog why dental amalgam is being phased out, the safety of existing fillings, whether they should be replaced, and the available alternatives.
Wondering if your dental amalgam fillings need attention? Book a visit with the experts at Dulwich Dental Office to see if a replacement is right for you.
Understanding Dental Amalgam Fillings
Dental amalgam is a metallic restorative material composed of a mixture of several metals, including silver, copper, and tin, combined with mercury. Despite its unappealing appearance, dental amalgam remains the most used restorative material for posterior teeth.
Dental amalgam restorations provide several advantages, including:
- • Long-Term Durability
- • High strength and the ability to withstand high masticatory forces without fracturing
- • Affordability
- • Suitable for large cavities.
The primary disadvantage of amalgam restorations is their metallic colour, which many patients find unacceptable. Consequently, with the increasing emphasis on aesthetics, tooth-coloured restorative materials have become more popular among patients, even for posterior teeth.
Why Is Amalgam Being Banned?
Contrary to what you might think when you hear “amalgam ban,” amalgam restorations are completely safe. The primary reason for the phase-out of amalgam is environmental.
The primary concern with amalgam restorations is their mercury content. Mercury poses environmental and health risks if released into the ecosystem. When mercury is discharged, it settles on land and in water bodies. Fish that ingest contaminated water become polluted with mercury. When humans consume these contaminated fish, it can lead to health problems affecting the lungs, kidneys, nervous system, and immune system.
This is why international agreements exist to reduce mercury pollution by encouraging the health sector, including dentists, to minimise the use of mercury-containing products.
Although the mercury content in amalgam restorations is considered safe, a global agreement to phase out amalgam is currently being implemented.
Are Amalgam Restorations Safe?
This is often the first question patients with existing amalgam fillings ask after learning about the amalgam phase-out.
Amalgam restorations are completely safe, and there is no reason to replace them unless they show signs of failure.
If you have an existing amalgam restoration that is functioning well and causing no issues, you should keep it and have your dentist examine it during your regular check-ups. In fact, unnecessary removal of amalgam restorations can lead to the unnecessary removal of healthy tooth structure during cavity preparation.
Dental amalgam restoration replacement is necessary only if:
- The tooth or the amalgam filling is fractured or cracked.
- Secondary decay develops at the restoration margin.
- Tooth sensitivity
- Leaky margins
- The patient has developed cosmetic concerns regarding the amalgam filling.
If your amalgam restoration needs replacing, contact the experts at the Dulwich Dental Office and discover the exciting modern alternatives waiting for you. As noted, the primary concern for patients with amalgam is related to old restorations rather than new ones.
Even before the amalgam ban, most people preferred tooth-coloured restorations due to aesthetic concerns associated with amalgam.
The popularity of tooth-coloured restorations has significantly increased because they provide natural-looking results, conserve tooth structure, and eliminate the need for metallic restorations.
With the amalgam ban or phase-out, patients were more concerned about existing restorations rather than new ones. However, as explained, there is no need to fear existing amalgam restorations. The best approach is to maintain regular check-ups and replace them only when signs of failure appear.
Dental Amalgam Alternatives
Several modern alternatives are available for the restoration of decayed teeth, providing efficient and safe replacements for amalgam fillings.
1. Composite resin (white filling)
Composite resin is a tooth-coloured restorative material available in many shades to match natural tooth colour. This has made it widely popular among patients due to its aesthetic appearance.
Composite resin requires minimal tooth preparation before bonding, supporting a conservative dental approach. It is widely used for cosmetic concerns, such as tooth discolouration treated with composite veneers, as well as for restoring decayed, fractured, or cracked teeth.
2. Ceramic Inlays and Onlays
For severely damaged teeth requiring extensive restoration, ceramic inlays and onlays offer an excellent solution to restore and support the tooth structure. These inlays and onlays are fabricated indirectly by milling a ceramic block that matches the tooth’s shade, which is then bonded to the tooth as a single unit.
Ceramic inlays and onlays provide excellent aesthetics, outstanding durability, and high resistance to staining.
3. Glass Ionomer
Glass ionomer restorations are considered long-term temporary restorations. Despite their high solubility and limited ability to withstand chewing forces over extended periods, they offer the unique advantage of fluoride release, which enhances the tooth’s resistance to decay.
For this reason, glass ionomers are primarily used in cases with high caries risk, for patients requiring long-term temporary restorations until a final restoration can be placed, or for treating decay in primary teeth. These restorations are tooth-coloured and available in various shades, making them aesthetically acceptable to patients.
Dulwich Dental Office: London Experts for Modern Aesthetic Solutions
At Dulwich Dental Office, we always prioritise our patients’ oral health by following recent guidelines and regulations. We understand how the news about the amalgam ban can be confusing for some patients, but no need to worry.
Our experienced team takes a patient-focused approach, carefully assessing existing fillings and recommending treatment only when genuinely required. We believe in preserving healthy tooth structure whenever possible while providing access to the latest restorative materials and techniques.
Book an appointment with Dulwich Dental Office today and let our experienced team evaluate your restorations, answer your questions, and recommend the most appropriate treatment for your smile.
