Summary Statement on Dental Amalgam ADA
There is concern that the components of amalgam (“fillings”) may pose a health risk to both adults and children. Dental amalgam is considered a safe, affordable and long-lasting material to restore the teeth of over 100 million Americans. It is made up of a mixture of metals, such as copper, silver, mercury and tin, all of which bind together to form a safe, stable coating. There is a fear that mercury, in particular, may have a deleterious effect on health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Dental Federation have both concluded that “No controlled studies have been published demonstrating systemic adverse effects from amalgam restorations”. Similarly, the American Dental Association (ADA) stated, “there currently appears to be no justification for discontinuing the use of dental amalgam”. They also concluded that there was no association of Alzheimer’s Disease with a history of dental amalgam restorations, nor an increased level of mercury in the brains of these patients versus the general population. The New England Journal of Medicine, in 2003, concluded, “patients who have questions about the potential relation between mercury and degenerative diseases can be assured that the available evidence shows no connection”. The American Medical Association (AMA) published the results of two independent clinical trials showing that there was no difference in neurobehavioral assessments or nerve conduction velocity in children treated with resin composite material versus amalgam. Finally, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) classifies amalgam together with all other forms of restorative material (including composite and gold fillings) and reaffirmed the agency’s position that amalgam is a safe and effective restorative option for patients.
Please contact Dr. Boling – Lonestar Smiles for Kids at 817-598-0835 if you have any questions regarding safety.
