If you've ever visited the dentist, for a cavity chances are you've come across amalgam fillings. These fillings, often referred to as " fillings" due to their appearance actually contain mercury.
During this procedure dentists use amalgam to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. This method has been a practice for over 150 years. Is still used on millions of patients worldwide. Let’s explore the world of amalgam fillings together.
Curious about the controversy surrounding amalgam? It revolves around the use of Mercury alloy, in these fillings. Dental amalgam is composed of a blend of metals– Mercury alloy. You see, this dental amalgam contains a mixture of different metals together. These Metals are made up of liquid mercury and a powdered alloy made of silver, tin, and copper. Dental amalgam has about
50% of mecury by weight. Why so much mercury? Well, Mercury is used to effectively combine the alloy particles, which gives it its robust, long-lasting, solid filling attributes. In your elementary school, I'm sure you know that Mercury has the ability to remain in a liquid state at room temperature and its strong bonding capabilities with alloy powder. These characteristics make it a very important "secret weapon" in dental amalgam's arsenal.
Having said that, some people supports the notion that amalgam is safe, effective, and long-lasting, while others have concerns and argue about its safety due to potential
mercury poisoning and other toxicity. Proponents of amalgam fillings argue that they are safe, lasting, affordable and easy to use. Compared to resin composites amalgam fillings have a lifespan. Are more resilient.
It is also quicker to place and can handle saliva or blood contamination during placement, but sadly, we cannot say the same thing about composites. And as we have stated earlier, amalgam seems to be cheaper to be more cost-effective. Yea, let's say 20-30% cheaper.
The mercury used in all these procedures is quite different from the ones you already know. The Dental amalgam used is elemental mercury, which can release mercury vapour. When this vapor is inhaled the lungs absorb it in a process known as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation involves the accumulation of substances in the bodys tissues or organs. In this case the substance is the mercury present in amalgam fillings.
While the mercury is different from the one found in fish, the process of bioaccumulation can still occur when one eats seafood that has mercury in it. According to the FDA, it is possible that you have mercury vapour build-up in specific tissues in your system, like the kidneys and the brain. However, no evidence is out yet on the gathering of mercury overtime, leads to organ damage.
Consumer Reports has it that there are some individuals who are preachers against the use of mental amalgam are trying to mislead patients into going for a more expensive treatment alternatives for their gain.
Some individuals who are against the use of amalgam argue that modern composites are continuously improving in terms of their strength. Critics of amalgam fillings not express concerns, about potential health and ethical issues but also argue that these fillings may contribute to mercury pollution in the environment.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) notes that healthcare facilities, including clinics account for up to 5% of mercury emissions in wastewater. In addition, the health agency, WHO highlights the importance of amalgam separators, which are commonly installed in dental offices' wastewater lines. These separators help reduce the amount of mercury that is released into the public sewer system.
Amalgam waste disposal down the drain is not allowed in the majority of dental practices in the United States. Some critics argue that the cremation of dental fillings is an added factor in air pollution, accounting for approximately 1% of global emissions.
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