Amalgam Fillings

There is much controversy surrounding Cincinnati dental practitioners’ use of amalgam fillings and the amount of mercury the material contains. This debate arises from the fact that the toxicity of mercury is a universally accepted, but no indisputable data or evidence exists regarding the effects of exposure to mercury on a person with amalgam fillings. Mercury amount estimates range from miniscule to large amounts and are blamed for everything from autoimmune disorders to mental instability. In the absence of documentary evidence to the contrary, amalgam fillings continue to be popular among Cincinnati dentists and their patients. No international health body or individual dentist has to-date found any cause for alarm regarding the wellbeing of patients who have had their cavities treated with amalgam fillings.

Amalgam fillings are low-cost, easy to administer, and resilient in the face of stress, even in the hardworking molar teeth. There are more drawbacks to the amalgam fillings, though. For example the placement process requires removal of more tooth structure to apply the filling properly and the dark grey material is visible whenever the person speaks or laughs.

Amalgam fillings require preparation of the tooth with dental adhesives and resins, and then sealing with special lighting device. The fact that amalgam fillings are easier to apply make them a preferred treatment choice for the patient who does not like to spend extra time in a dentist’s chair. A patient should always consult the options with their Cincinnati-area dentist before deciding on a course of treatment.

If the patient is apprehensive about the expense, then amalgam fillings are the way to go, but if they are more concerned about the aesthetics then composite fillings are recommended because they are more natural looking substance. However, most dental insurance plans today cover them because they are less costly and not the more expensive composites.