Dental Fillings

Fillings

Fillings are used to repair a cavity in your tooth caused by decay. Your dentist will offer you the type of filling they consider clinically necessary. The most common type of filling is dental amalgam, made from a mixture of different metals. Dental amalgam fillings are often used on your back teeth as they're hard-wearing. If you need a filling for one of your front teeth, your dentist may suggest a tooth-colored (white) filling .

.Fillings  can be made of:

• amalgam (silver-coloured) – a mixture of metals, including mercury, silver, tin and copper
• composite (tooth-coloured) – made of resin and glass mixture
• glass ionomer (tooth-coloured) – powdered glass, which forms a chemical bond with your tooth and may release fluoride that helps to prevent further decay

There are a number of articles on the internet about the alleged toxic properties of amalgam. Although amalgam fillings can release low levels of mercury vapour, particularly when they are put in or removed, there is no evidence that exposure to mercury from amalgam fillings has any harmful effects on health. Talk to your dentist if you have any concerns.