Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay . Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper.
What is amalgam solution?
Liquid-Solid Solutions
Perhaps the most familiar liquid-solid solution is dental amalgam, used to fill teeth when there is a cavity. Approximately 50% of the amalgam material is liquid mercury to which a powdered alloy of silver, tin and copper is added. Mercury is used because it binds well with the solid metal alloy.
What is the amalgam well used for?
A mixture (alloy) of silver and several other metals, used by dentists to make fillings for cavities .
What are the main indications for use of amalgam?
The range of indications for amalgam includes class I cavities , when the occlusal carious lesions do not permit “extended fissure sealing,” and similar class II cavities. Amalgam is not usable for class III and IV cavities in visible areas of the anterior teeth for aesthetic reasons.
Are amalgam fillings still used?
Currently, there are millions of amalgam dental fillings in use and they continue to be placed in dental schools, clinics and hospitals all over the world. They are considered safe and stable, yet their use continues to be debated , says dentist Nathan Janowicz, DMD.
What happens after amalgam removal?
Once the amalgam fillings are removed from the teeth, your body will begin to discharge the mercury and other related toxins it had stored up , a process that can take a long time, perhaps years.
How do you prepare for amalgam removal?
During the amalgam removal process
It is recommended to use Quicksilver IMD to bind metals directly prior to removal, and a combination of IMD and charcoal/clay binders directly after. To help reduce inflammation, high dose vitamin C (1000 to 2000mg) may be used directly after removal as well.
What happens when mercury reacts with gold?
Freddie Mercury may have had the golden voice, but real mercury, that endlessly entertaining and dangerous liquid metal, has the golden touch. That is, if it touches gold it will immediately break the lattice bonds of the precious metal and form an alloy in a process known as amalgamation.
Is oxygen a solute or solvent?
| Type Solvent Solute | gas/gas nitrogen oxygen | gas/liquid water carbon dioxide | liquid/liquid water ethylene glycol | solid/liquid water salts |
|---|
Does mercury destroy gold?
Mercury dissolves many metals such as gold and silver to form amalgams.
Is dental amalgam safe for humans?
Dental amalgam is considered a safe, affordable and durable material that has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans. It contains a mixture of metals such as silver, copper and tin, in addition to mercury, which binds these components into a hard, stable and safe substance.
How long do amalgam fillings last?
Amalgam fillings are durable and effective, which is why they have been used for well over 100 years. On average, you can expect a metal filling to last for about 15 years before needing to be replaced, but the length of time can vary based on several factors, such as if you grind or clench your teeth.
Are amalgam fillings banned in the UK?
Well, the debate has gone on for decades and up to now there is no conclusive evidence that dental amalgam is in any way harmful to health. However, the use of dental amalgam has recently been banned in the UK in children under 15 .
Do dentists lie about cavities?
The answer is not always . Unfortunately, a cavity can be deceptive. It can hide and be obscured by old fillings, location, or just not be obvious by eye or X-ray. Many times I see a small cavity in a tooth that I think will be small and find after drilling that it is much, much bigger than originally thought.
Are white fillings as strong as amalgam?
Are white fillings better than amalgam? Modern white fillings are much stronger than those from several years ago . They are also bonded to the tooth to effectively seal the margin. Amalgam fillings just plug the hole and do not seal the margins or reinforce teeth.
What countries have banned amalgam fillings?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already ordered the ban, considering the possible harm of these fillings. In the document FDA released, amalgam fillings ban in European countries like Norway, Denmark, and Sweden . Similarly, the European Union also released a statement requesting for the ban of the same material.
