All About Silver Filling Removal

Sometimes silver fillings(also know as amalgam or mercury fillings) need to be replaced and other times people just want to have them replaced. They need to be replaced if they have cracks in them or if they start to gap between the filling and the tooth. But really, old silver fillings tend to be kind of ugly. With so many pretty filling materials around now, the silver/black color of these old fillings are just not esthetic enough for the 21st century. Another reason to replace silver fillings is that the expansion and contraction of the filling over the years due to temperature change, can predispose a tooth to cracking. The filling can also act like a wedge in the tooth causing it to break.

Breaking down old silver fillings. Not the prettiest teeth.

The most common way to replace a silver filling is with bonded composite resin tooth-colored filling material. It is by far the most common direct filling material used today and its use is continually growing, as more people are concerned about esthetics. Since it relies on a “bond” with the tooth structure, it can be used in a manner that is more conservative, in that the amount of tooth structure that needs to be removed is less than with silver fillings.

Silver fillings (amalgams) contains elemental mercury. They can release low levels of mercury vapor that can then be inhaled and absorbed in the lungs. So every so many years the FDA reviews the most recent scientific research to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with these fillings are a cause for concern. The latest review which was in 2009, resulted in the same conclusion that it has reached in the past, that they consider silver fillings safe. Clinical studies in adults and children ages 6 and above have found no link between silver(amalgam) fillings and health problems.

The procedure starts with getting the tooth numb with a local anesthetic. Next, the old silver filling is drilled out and any decay that may be present is removed. The space is shaped to ready it for the new filling. The tooth is then etched with an acid gel to help with the bonding of the filling. The resin is layered in the tooth and hardened by using a bright light. After the filling has been placed and hardened up, the filling is polished.

How long do fillings last? Dental fillings tend to last between 5 to 15 years on average. This depends on the amount of wear and tear it is subjected to and also the oral hygiene habits of the individual. Does insurance pay for silver filling removal? Generally, insurance companies will pay a benefit towards removing silver fillings as long as the fillings being removed are at least 2 years old.

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