The discussions held among the experts were mainly about risks and safety issues, but let's go into more specifics.
Dental amalgam fillings, also commonly referred to as "fillings," are a type of dental restoration that used to be used in dentistry but has now largely fallen into disuse. This compound was used to repair cavities because it ensured long-lasting results, ignoring the fact that of lastingness it also carried with it harmfulness to humans.
In fact, amalgam is a metal matrix composite material that used to be suitable for this type of dental procedure, but is undoubtedly unsightly, especially when compared with the materials that are used today to do the same procedures. Anyone who presents amalgam restorations can easily see how much they compromise the aesthetics of the smile.
The metallic color, in fact, does not allow it to simulate the normal appearance of teeth and, moreover, over time and due to oxidation it only gets darker.
For some time now, moreover, the scientific community has come to regard a good portion of the components of amalgam as potentially harmful, and therefore harmful to the health of patients who have it in their fillings.
What is amalgam composed of?
Amalgam, which literally means "soft mixture," is a metal alloy composed of several elements, including Mercury. Mercury itself, however, represents one of those materials that is potentially harmful to humans.
This element, which is in a liquid state at room temperature, was mixed with other powdered materials, such as Tin, Silver and Copper. Although many people call amalgam fillings as "plumbings," Lead itself is not one of the elements that makes up this "soft mixture."
Why remove amalgam?
Although amalgam has been used for a very long time for dental restorations, today science has proven its harmfulness to the human body. There are two ways in which our bodies can absorb the toxic substances contained in amalgam:
- by the lungs, then through inhalation of vapors that contain harmful microparticles;
- through the digestive tract, through the ingestion of mercury particles, which pose a potential danger to the brain, liver and kidneys.
Therefore, harmfulness is the main reason why one should proceed with the export of the material from one's mouth. Within our dental practice we intervene on old fillings of this type, taking all the necessary precautions so that the patient is in no way exposed to the dangerous substances.
When is it necessary to undergo amalgam removal treatment?
Removal treatment may become absolutely necessary for reasons of dental urgency (such as in the case of fractured fillings, infiltrations, root canal treatments, or local pathology), but often it may also be important to perform removal for reasons such as allergies, intolerances, or intoxication.
How does amalgam removal take place?
The removal of a dental amalgam must always be done according to specific procedures that ensure the safety of all persons present at the time of the operation, i.e., the patient, the physician and the assistant.
For this type of surgery, there is a special device that is inserted on the patient's tooth by the dental professional. It is a very small, transparent, soft plastic device that is welded onto a tube connected to an aspirator.
This instrumentation allows for forced aspiration in the working area and almost goes to create a vacuum effect. Aspiration of amalgam, however, does not guarantee a total absence of Mercury in the patient's body, because this may have been deposited over the years in the form of particles.
However, the removal of the old filling must always be done in absolute safety, because the damage in case of a botched operation could be quite unpleasant; therefore, it is incumbent to rely on professionals to carry out such work.
The benefits after removal
A huge advantage given by the removal of old fillings is undoubtedly the elimination of that annoying "metallic taste" that many patients often complain about; amalgam fillings can in fact cause food flavors to be altered.
The second major advantage is then related to purely aesthetic aspects, but these are no less important. The removal of the old filling will allow its replacement with the most modern materials adopted in dentistry, which aim to faithfully simulate the natural appearance of teeth. It will then be possible to regain a healthy, white and bright smile.
The third advantage is the protection of the so-called enamel cracks (small spinning lines) that can be observed on the sides of the amalgam restoration and that can be the precursors of an actual fracture: in fact, the amalgam does not have an adhesion to the tooth but stays on thanks to a purely mechanical interlocking; for this reason, over time it exerts pressure along the tooth walls.
This pressure, often symptomless, can sometimes give discomfort to chewing or trigger a real fracture...in these cases amalgam replacement and protection of the crack areas with more flexible materials such as composite restorations or inlays is indicated.
Before performing any amalgam removal treatment, it is a good idea to undergo a thorough examination by your specialist at your trusted professional clinic. This will enable you to analyze the fillings and their condition in a timely manner.
So call the Savasta office and schedule your follow-up visit. Our specialists will be happy to advise you on how to proceed based on your specific needs.
