Is There Safety in Using Silver Dental Fillings or is There Danger? 
Everyday, people visit their dentists to get their teeth filled. Surprisingly, many of them do not even know what materials their dentists use to fill their teeth with and the possible side effects that silver fillings might have on their bodies or mental state. A lot of people feel that since their dentists use the materials, they must be safe. Having the feeling of safety may just be a falsehood for some.
What do silver fillings contain?
It is a product in which half of it contains mercury liquid. The other half is made up of metals, mainly silver and accompanied by tin, copper and zinc powders. Mercury liquid bonds with the metals to make a hard dental filling. It protects the teeth from further decay.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
According to the FDA, silver fillings, also known as mercury fillings or dental amalgam, is a medical device and is regulated by them. Based on the their recent findings, they have decided that this type of metal filling is a safe product to use, after reviewing their clinical information. The FDA has said that children under the age of six and mothers who breast feed should talk with their dentists before using silver fillings. They concluded that some people are allergic or sensitive to the metals used. However, reported effects from some patients who have had this type of filling are startling. There have been complaints about shortness of breath, memory loss, and partial paralysis to name only a few symptoms. Miscarriages have also been reported after having the procedure.
The problem with mercury based fillings is that when a person chews, bites or breaks a tooth, the vapors seep out of the tooth area and ends up in the oral cavity where it can be inhaled. Mercury is a poisonous liquid that at certain levels can have very hazardous affects on the human body, especially on the kidneys, bones, brain and even the stomach. What is unfortunate is that the level that may affect a person might not be the level that the FDA says is safe, especially if that person is sensitive to it.
Other safe alternatives:
White fillings & Porcelain Restorations
The concern years ago was that mercury fillings were the strongest type of filling possible to use on teeth to control their decay. That is not the truth today. There are other fillings that can be used by dentists that are not metal and are non-poisonous such as a white filling. It is made of hard composite and is resistant to breakage. Porcelain restorations are the strongest and most esthetic. No poisons seep into the mouth when the patients chews. There is no need to worry about what level is a safe level of poison.
White filling and porcelain restorations for teeth has a wonderful aesthetic property that metal fillings do not have. When looking inside a mouth that has had this type of filling, the patient only sees his or her white teeth. When using silver fillings, a look inside a patient's mouth shows a lot of metal.
Ask the dentist about options
Many people do not realize that they have other safe options instead of mercury fillings. They can take control of the amount of silver in their mouth by making their own informative decisions to use white fillings, safely.
Our Practice
At Dr. Cameron Torabi's office we only use non-toxic, mercury free products. We are a green dental practice with a focus on the health of our patients, our staff and our environment.
CONTACT US! (310) 481-0111
FDA, “About Dental Amalgam Fillings” http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm The Good Human, “Are Silver Dental Fillings Toxic or Dangerous?” http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2011/02/13/are-silver-dental-fillings-toxic-or-dangerous/CNN Health, “FDA revisits mercury fillings”