What are the health risks of mercury in dental fillings?

Dental amalgams are an alloy made by mixing liquid mercury with solid metals like silver, tin, and copper to fill cavities. While supporters argue that these fillings are safe, durable, and cost-effective, critics raise concerns about potential mercury toxicity and environmental contamination. Consequently, health agencies and regulatory bodies differ on whether amalgam fillings pose a health risk, with some advising caution for vulnerable populations.

What we know

• Dental amalgams are formed by combining liquid mercury with solid metal particles such as silver, copper, and tin. [2]
• Critics of dental amalgam argue that it is unsafe because it may cause mercury poisoning and other toxicity. [3]
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises against the use of amalgam fillings for high-risk groups, including children and pregnant or nursing women. [3]
• Numerous medical and dental organizations maintain that amalgam restorations are safe and effective. [3]

Still open

• There is an ongoing debate and conflicting guidance regarding whether dental amalgams present a direct health risk to the general population or specific patient groups.

Where to go next

• compared withWhat are resin-based composite dental fillings?
• the bigger pictureHow does elemental mercury affect human health?
• whenWhen were dental amalgams first invented?
• how it workedHow do dental offices dispose of mercury waste?
• what caused itWhy does the World Health Organization recommend a phase-out of dental mercury?
• an unexpected connectionHow do cremation and dental fillings create air pollution?The cremation of human remains with dental fillings contributes about one percent of global mercury air pollution.

Sources

• [1]dental amalgam (Wikidata Q898259) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Amalgam (dentistry) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Dental amalgam controversy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Dental composite · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Mercury (element) · CC BY-SA 4.0