If a tooth has caries, the substance softened by the bacteria must be removed. A cavity is created, i.e. a hole in the tooth that has to be filled. The filling serves to prevent further loss of hard tooth substance and to restore the tooth's stability.
Read on about: Tooth fillings - what materials are there?
Fillings made from amalgam are those Standard supply of the health insurance companies in Posterior region.
If the hard tooth substance is destroyed by acids, restoration by the body's own restoration is no longer possible, as the hard tooth substance is not supplied with blood. The defect must therefore be repaired with a filling.
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Several materials are available for this. The amalgam filling has been used for the posterior region for decades. Amalgam is easy to apply, can be contoured and has a hardness that is necessary in the chewing area. In addition, the material is easy to polish and expands slightly when it sets, which is important for reducing the marginal gap in the filling.
Since amalgam is a good conductor for thermal stimuli, an underfill must always be placed for insulation. This underfill consists of cement, which is applied about 1mm thick to the bottom of the cavity. This is mostly the tried and tested phosphate cement.
Find out more at: Phosphate cement
In the past, amalgam was mixed by rubbing in a mortar until it had a malleable consistency. Today the two components are mixed into amalgam in capsules in machines. This prevents mercury vapors from developing and being released into the environment. A disadvantage of the amalgam filling is its silver color and the possibility of small amounts of mercury being absorbed from the filling surface.
$config[ads_text2] not foundBecause of these disadvantages, the Amalgam filling controversial today. On the one hand there are the strict rejecters of amalgam fillings because they fear that the release of traces of mercury will lead to it Mercury poisoning can come. On the other hand, there are the proponents of the amalgam filling, who point to the decades of use without proven symptoms of poisoning. Many scientific studies have shown that amalgam fillers do not pose a health risk.
If there is any increased absorption of mercury vapors, it is for the dentist and his staff. But here, too, there is no known case in which poisoning occurred. The only contraindication to an amalgam filling is one allergy. But that too is extremely rare. The negative attitude towards amalgam fillings is therefore unfounded. As a rule, however, patients today no longer want amalgam fillings because they are unsettled by the amalgam campaign, but also for aesthetic reasons. You want to have tooth-colored fillings that also come with Plastic filling materials are feasible. However, they do not have the abrasion resistance of the amalgam filling and long-term experience as with amalgam is not yet available.
Studies have shown that there is a connection between an amalgam filling and local reactions on the oral mucosa or the gums. As the most common form of the rare side effects, these are usually expressed in allergic reactions or small discolored areas on the mucous membrane.
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However, no evidence has yet been provided that any consequential damage to health has occurred.
You have to choose between one Amalgam poisoning, one Amalgam burden and one Amalgam allergy distinguish. Affected patients tolerate the amalgam very poorly even well below the toxic limit. Side effects of tooth metal can include Tiredness / fatigue, metallic taste, rash, migraines, nerve pain, impaired sensation, inflammation of the mucous membranes, memory problems or mental symptoms be.
$config[ads_text2] not foundIn general, if the symptoms mentioned above occur after an amalgam filling, you should consult the treating dentist. An allergy test can be carried out after the findings have been recorded. Then there are urine and blood tests to determine the amount of amalgam in the body.
The amalgam filling is still a good treatment for teeth in the posterior area. It is uncomplicated to use, stable against chewing pressure, has a long shelf life and has been tried and tested for decades.
In summary, the negative attitude towards amalgam is unfounded and not harmful from a scientific point of view.
For aesthetic reasons, it is not suitable for the anterior region.
If tooth decay recurs, the old amalgam fillings must be removed. This creates amalgam dust, which is mixed with the cooling liquid and extracted. This sludge is collected and disposed of.
Every dentist must have such an amalgam separator on his suction system and provide evidence of disposal.
Mercury, which makes up 50 percent of most dental fillings, is very toxic and is subject to the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances. For this reason, certain protective measures must be taken by the dentist both when placing a new amalgam filling and when removing it.
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Mercury from the amalgam filling can enter the body through evaporation, through abrasion of the filling or through corrosion (= leaching of mercury ions).
The most dangerous is that Mercury vapor. This is especially released when it is warm. For this reason, even drilling out old amalgam fillings, during which high temperatures briefly hit the filling, cannot be completely stress-free. The dangerous thing about vapors is that they are absorbed by the mucous membranes and the lungs when they are inhaled and can no longer be excreted afterwards. The absorbed mercury is stored in the nerve cells, in the blood, in the tissue fluid and in the lymph.
The mercury content of the amalgam filling, which is released by the years of abrasion of the filling, is low. If you have a lot of amalgam fillings in the posterior area, you should think about a renewal, especially if they have to be replaced anyway due to renewed caries.
Certain precautions should be taken during pregnancy to protect the unborn child. Particularly in the case of dental treatments, careful attention must be paid to the materials used and the local anesthetics for anesthesia. Many of them can cause health problems in the unborn child. In order to reduce the mercury exposure for the baby to a minimum, one should refrain from placing amalgam fillings during pregnancy. Any amalgam removal should also not be performed during pregnancy.
If you received amalgam fillings before the pregnancy, the entire mercury exposure is harmless to the unborn child, as the fillings are well polished and sealed.
The proportion of mercury that enters the body through abrasion in the mouth during pregnancy is very small and does not endanger the unborn child.
Amalgam is considered a very inexpensive and durable material for filling teeth. For this reason, the amalgam filling is the only filling material borne by health insurance companies.
But the amalgam can be harmful to health. The mercury components evaporate at room temperature. Patients with many amalgam fillings can often have the fillings replaced with plastic.
Unfortunately, the removal of the amalgam fillings cannot be carried out completely stress-free. The reason for this is the increasing amount of mercury vapors that are being released. When drilling out the fillings, very high temperatures act briefly on the filling. As a result, more dangerous vapors are released.
$config[ads_text1] not foundTo protect the patient, the dentist should take various protective measures such as Rubber dam (= a kind of rubber cloth that separates the teeth from the oral cavity), low-speed turbines and powerful suction systems.
After the amalgam has been removed, the tooth can be restored using plastic fillings, all-ceramic restorations, gold inlays or cement fillings.
More information on the topic Rubber dam you'll find here.
During amalgam restoration, an amalgam filling is drilled out. Low-speed drills are mostly used for this. On the one hand, temperatures that are too high should not be generated in order to keep the mercury vapors low. On the other hand, there should not be too many amalgam splinters when drilling out the filling.
Furthermore, certain safety measures should be taken by the dentist. These include the application of rubber dam, special suction cups and low-speed drills. After the amalgam filling has been removed, the cavity (= the hole) can be restored with various materials. In most cases, a plastic filling is the choice.
It is calculated per area and must be paid privately. The advantages of plastic are aesthetics as well as costs. The color of the plastic can be matched very precisely to the color of the actual tooth. In terms of price, the plastic filling is far more affordable than the alternatives of a new supply. These are a gold inlay or an all-ceramic restoration. These two options are particularly impressive due to their durability and durability. However, they are quite a bit more expensive than a plastic filling.
The costs associated with amalgam restoration depend on the size of the filling to be removed. Depending on the position and size of the tooth and the filling, they can be between € 40 and € 80.
Added to this are the costs for the new restoration of the cavity (= hole). The health insurance companies only pay for a composite filling (= a tooth-colored plastic) if one Amalgam intolerance present. Otherwise the new fillings have to be borne by the patient himself.
In most cases, the option of a plastic filling is chosen. This is billed according to area and can cost between € 50 and € 350. Further options are a gold inlay or an all-ceramic restoration. For these, the price range is significantly higher.
If desired or necessary, the body can be poisoned with amalgam (= amalgam discharge).
If you have swallowed an amalgam filling, there is no need to worry. It will leave the body naturally after 2 - 3 days.
An amalgam filling consists of 50% mercury. Mercury vapors are very dangerous for the body. These are mainly released during processing when filling the tooth and when drilling out. In the case of the latter, the vapors are released due to the high temperatures that briefly hit the fillings through the drill. In order to reduce the fumes a little, the dentist should take appropriate protective measures for the patient and himself.
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However, swallowing a long-standing filling is not dangerous.
If you are still concerned, you can Level of mercury in the blood let determine to possibly to have a detox done. However, it is now very important to visit a dentist to have the cavity, i.e. the hole, restored. You should also clarify what the reason for the original falling out of the amalgam filling was. Caries under the filling is often the cause of the filling's loss of adhesion.
Depending on the age of the amalgam filling, after a long time it can happen that a piece of the amalgam filling breaks out or larger pieces. Often a part is swallowed. In this case, there is nothing to worry about. The swallowed piece of amalgam filling finds its way out of the body naturally after 2-3 days.
If the amalgam filling is broken, you can feel it with your tongue. You should see a dentist immediately. The old filling must be completely removed. An exposed piece in the filling will release more harmful mercury into the body. After the old filling has been removed, there are various options for restoring the tooth. In most cases, a plastic filling is the choice.
Further information on this topic can be found at: Tooth filling broken out - what to do?
Amalgam generally refers to an alloy, i.e. an alloy Composition of different metals, one component of which consists of mercury.
Half of the amalgam filling in teeth consists of mercury. This is mixed with the so-called filing. This filing consists of silver, copper, tin, and zinc. In the past, copper amalgam (65% mercury and 35% copper) was used, which had to be heated for processing. You can recognize the amalgam fillings in the mouth by theirs silver-gray color.
Amalgam is very durable and can be processed very easily. It hardens itself after a short time. It is inexpensive and lasts a very long time, which is why it has been a material for dental fillings for almost 200 years.
What is dangerous for the body about the amalgam are the vapors from the mercury content, which are released when the filling is placed and drilled out. The dentist should therefore place a rubber dam (a kind of rubber cloth) and use it to shield the tooth from the rest of the oral cavity.
Find out more about: Plastic dental fillings
Amalgam fillings are recognizable by their metallic gray-silvery color. Due to their poor aesthetics, they are usually located in the posterior region. But when you laugh or speak, these areas can sometimes become visible.
Unfortunately, the gray fillings of the teeth cannot be colored white. In order to get a matching filling in the color of your own tooth, you have to remove the old amalgam fillings and replace them with high-quality plastic fillings made from tooth-colored composite.
Amalgam consists of Mercury, silver, copper, tin, zinc and Indium together. Because of its components, amalgam is not magnetic.
Show in pure form Cobald, nickel and iron magnetic properties. However, these are not present in an amalgam filling.
If you have amalgam fillings in your teeth, there is no cause for concern during an MRI scan.
You can also go into the MRI with amalgam fillings, as they are not magnetic. There is neither a health risk nor can the result be falsified by the amalgam.
According to patient reports it may be that the amalgam fillings heat. This feels a bit strange in the mouth, but there is nothing to worry about.
Amalgam fillings have been made in dentistry for more than 100 years because they are inexpensive and have a long shelf life. It has been proven that amalgam lasts in a patient's mouth for an average of at least 10 years. It is used in the posterior region, as there are particularly high chewing forces here. However, many patients report that the fillings last well over 10 years.
The most common causes of loss of shelf life are breakage or flaking.
A connection between tinnitus and an amalgam filling has not been scientifically confirmed.
Amalgam in dental fillings could be a possible additive Be the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, this has not yet been scientifically proven.
There is still no scientific evidence of a causal relationship between Parkinson's and amalgam fillings.
It has not been proven that amalgam fillings can lead to depression.
A reduction in symptoms after removal of the filling was described by those affected, but this is more psychologically justified in the sense of an imagination or wishful thinking.
Symptoms of amalgam poisoning include Fatigue, severe headache, metallic taste, pain in hands and feet, decreased muscle strength and hypersensitivity.
Read our main article on this: Mercury poisoning
