Can a hazardous material be stored in your mouth?

Many people are unaware that traditional silver fillings contain up to 50% mercury, a hazardous material. There has been an ongoing debate about the safe use of this material in the human mouth. Although silver mercury fillings can still be used, the debate of their safety continues. In the dental office, silver mercury filling materials are regulated as a hazardous material.  Leftover silver amalgam is a hazardous waste. It cannot be thrown in the garbage, or flushed down the drain; it must be stored in a special hazardous waste container. The only place it seems it can be safely stored is in a person’s mouth.

We at the Buffalo Dental Group have not used silver mercury fillings since 1993. Here’s why:

• There are better materials available. While traditional silver mercury fillings weaken your teeth, today’s tooth colored resin and ceramic materials, can be chemically bonded directly to teeth.  This reinforces and strengthens your remaining tooth structure.
• Silver mercury fillings do not add any strength to your teeth; in fact they actually weaken them. Frequently, this results in fractures of these filled teeth.
• Silver mercury amalgam fillings expand both as they age, as well as from changes in temperature. This can cause stress fractures and possible fracture of the remaining tooth.
• Since silver mercury fillings do not bond to teeth, they can LEAK BACTERIA. This can result in additional decay under these fillings.
• Silver amalgam fillings do not strengthen your tooth.  It is like filling a pothole, it does nothing but fill a hole.
• Silver Mercury fillings require the removal of additional healthy tooth to keep them in place.

We decided many years ago that we would not put these materials in either our own or our families’ mouths. We therefore won’t use them in yours. There are far better alternatives.  Want any more reasons?  Call us (716)634-1234 or (716)832-7595. We will be glad to talk to you!!!!

When more than half of a tooth’s biting surface is damaged, we will often use an inlay or onlay. These can be made of porcelain or composite resin. These pieces (like a puzzle piece) are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth; an onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth

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