# Is dental amalgam safe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2013, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816 "2013-01-02T10:35:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shadowshudder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@shadowshudder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowshudder)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/1 "2013-01-02T10:35:35Z")
I have seen many things weighing for/against this. Your thoughts? By the way I have an amalgam filling. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/2 "2013-01-02T11:56:26Z")
Reasonably safe when used properly. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/3 "2013-01-02T13:06:59Z")
[Safe.](http://www.ada.org/1741.aspx) The real danger related to this issue is in succumbing to the claims of anti-amalgam proponents and getting one’s fillings yanked out and replaced by composite fillings (which aren’t any safer and have even [scarier-sounding components](http://www.dentalwatch.org/hg/myths210.html) than mercury). ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/4 "2013-01-03T00:42:00Z")
Dentist here, like anything else, you have to weigh the pros against the cons. Yes they leech some mercury, but you probably get more from tuna and coal fired power plants. Amalgam is generally cheaper and longerlasting than composite(white) fillings which can give off bisphenols. FWIW I have amalgams in several teeth, some almost 50 years old and when my daughter needed a fillings years ago I placed amalgam. All in all if it isn’t an aesthic issue, I’d leave it alone. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/5 "2013-01-03T01:07:09Z")
[The Master speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/609/are-you-being-poisoned-by-your-silver-tooth-fillings) ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/6 "2013-04-22T20:21:43Z")
I recently visited two separate dentists near my workplace and found that in 2013 both used amalgams. I was disappointed. I think it comes down to 3 things: 1. Mercury is a toxin and no way putting it in your mouth makes it magically untoxic 2. Amalgams are not a chemical compound but a physical compound and mercury does leach from amalgam fillings 3. The fact that millions have been used throughout the world means nothing about safety. As with any toxin, there are acute and sub-acute doses and there is no way to determine in something as complex as neurological function whether one is affected. But there sure is a lot of dementia nowadays, ain’t there? Lead was used in gasoline for years despite warnings from doctors. No one became drooling idiot from chronic exposure but now they are tracing reduction in crime rates to it being eliminated. The advice from one who had his fillings removed: Probably you shouldn’t have it done. I have had problems with the teeth that were weakened by the procedure and I am also not convinced that I wasn’t exposed to a lot of Hg during the removal. But for sure: Do not have new ones put in and don’t let your family use them. There are alternatives that I bet are less toxic than mercury. And, boy, don’t let an argument based on dollar cost persuade you – what would you sell an IQ point for? (I’m buying, btw.) Interestingly, 14% of mercury in the environment, affecting levels in fish, is attributed to dental waste and fillings that are vaporized during cremation. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/7 "2013-04-22T23:21:42Z")
> [@relesabe](#): > > I think it comes down to 3 things: > > 1. Mercury is a toxin and no way putting it in your mouth makes it magically untoxic Of course, you’re not putting “mercury” in your mouth, are you. > [@](#): > > 1. Amalgams are not a chemical compound but a physical compound and mercury does leach > from amalgam fillings . See the reply above of a dentist. The amount is so minimal, you get more in your life from other sources that you never even think about. > [@](#): > > 1. The fact that millions have been used throughout the world means nothing about safety. As with any toxin, there are acute and sub-acute doses and there is no way to determine in something as complex as neurological function whether one is affected. But there sure is a lot of dementia nowadays, ain’t there? . You’re saying that dental amagams cause dementia? PLEASE. > [@](#): > > Lead was used in gasoline for years despite warnings from doctors. No one became drooling idiot from chronic exposure but now they are tracing reduction in crime rates to it being eliminated. . While you may be correct, I’d like to see a link to a reliable site citing this. > [@](#): > > Interestingly, 14% of mercury in the environment, affecting levels in fish, is attributed to dental waste and fillings that are vaporized during cremation. I almost hate to ask, but where did you get this sketchy bit of info? Link to a reputable site, please. ---
**Author:** ![LMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@LMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMarie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/8 "2013-04-23T00:05:13Z")
About 3 years ago, one of my amalgam fillings fell out while I was eating. I didn’t immediately realize it and apparently swallowed the filling. My dentist assured me that it won’t harm me, but I’ve never felt at ease about it since so many have shared opinions to the contrary. A year ago, a second amalgam filling fell out. Luckily, I felt it right away and didn’t repeat the earlier mishap. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/9 "2013-04-23T00:08:18Z")
> [@LMarie](#): > > About 3 years ago, one of my amalgam fillings fell out while I was eating. I didn’t immediately realize it and apparently swallowed the filling. My dentist assured me that it won’t harm me, but I’ve never felt at ease about it since so many have shared opinions to the contrary. You’ll consume more mercury during an evening at a sushi restaurant, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/10 "2013-04-23T00:56:39Z")
**relesabe** ,You are right murcury is toxic, but it is the vapor that is harmful, not that which is bound to the other metals in the amalgam. Yes there is some exposure with amal. fillings but minimal compaired to sources in some fish or in the air around coal burning powerplants. Chlorine is even more toxic than amalgam, but do you want them to take it out of the drinking water and risk contaminated water? Even things that are good in usual doses such as vitamin A and Tylenol are toxic in doses that aren’t too much above theraputic doses. As I said before you must weigh the pluses against the minuses. No way I would remove my amalgams. Hell one of them is over 45 years old. The stuff lasts better than any other dental restorative material other than gold but nowadays no one wants it in their mouth. ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/11 "2013-04-23T02:56:22Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > **relesabe** ,You are right murcury is toxic, but it is the vapor that is harmful, not that which is bound to the other metals in the amalgam. Yes there is some exposure with amal. fillings but minimal compaired to sources in some fish or in the air around coal burning powerplants. > > Chlorine is even more toxic than amalgam, but do you want them to take it out of the drinking water and risk contaminated water? Even things that are good in usual doses such as vitamin A and Tylenol are toxic in doses that aren’t too much above theraputic doses. > > As I said before you must weigh the pluses against the minuses. No way I would remove my amalgams. Hell one of them is over 45 years old. The stuff lasts better than any other dental restorative material other than gold but nowadays no one wants it in their mouth. No, the element or compounds of it are also toxic. Vapor is especially dangerous because it directly enters the bloodstream through the lungs. ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/12 "2013-04-23T02:58:18Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > You’ll consume more mercury during an evening at a sushi restaurant, I suspect. Seafood is also a source of mercury and unfortunately a dangerous one. This is well known and does not mean that therefore you should ignore other sources. ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/13 "2013-04-23T03:00:58Z")
> [@LMarie](#): > > About 3 years ago, one of my amalgam fillings fell out while I was eating. I didn’t immediately realize it and apparently swallowed the filling. My dentist assured me that it won’t harm me, but I’ve never felt at ease about it since so many have shared opinions to the contrary. > > A year ago, a second amalgam filling fell out. Luckily, I felt it right away and didn’t repeat the earlier mishap. I think your dentist was right – the filling after being swallowed might ironically contribute less mercury to your bloodstream since you are no longer submitting it to mechanical stress by chewing, thus liberating mercury vapor. ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/14 "2013-04-23T03:02:09Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > **relesabe** ,You are right murcury is toxic, but it is the vapor that is harmful, not that which is bound to the other metals in the amalgam. Yes there is some exposure with amal. fillings but minimal compaired to sources in some fish or in the air around coal burning powerplants. > > Chlorine is even more toxic than amalgam, but do you want them to take it out of the drinking water and risk contaminated water? Even things that are good in usual doses such as vitamin A and Tylenol are toxic in doses that aren’t too much above theraputic doses. > > As I said before you must weigh the pluses against the minuses. No way I would remove my amalgams. Hell one of them is over 45 years old. The stuff lasts better than any other dental restorative material other than gold but nowadays no one wants it in their mouth. I said indeed that I would advise against removal but avoid having them put in. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/15 "2013-04-23T03:08:54Z")
**relesabe** , are you aware of how meaningless the designation “toxin” is unless one specifies the dose? _Anything_ is toxic given a sufficient dose, even things essential for life (oxygen, water, elements and minerals vital for normal biochemical processes etc.). You are living in a sea of “toxins”, but unless it is demonstrated that the substances in question are are harmful at the doses encountered, they are not toxins at all. > [@relesabe](#): > > There are alternatives that I bet are less toxic than mercury. Like for example composite fillings? Here are some of the nice chemicals you’ll find in them (I am reproducing just part of the list from [this site](http://www.dentalwatch.org/hg/myths210.html) to spare you possible further anxiety): 1,10-Decane-diol-dimethacrylate Diethyl-amino-ethanol Diethyleneglycol-di-methacrylate Dihydroxy-ethyl-p-toluidine 1,6-Diisocyanato-hexane 2,6-Diisopropyl-aniline 4-Dimethylaminobenzoic acid ethyl ester 2-(4-Dimethyl-aminophenyl)ethanol Dimethoxybenzoine Dimethyl-dodecane-amine Dimethyl-p-toluidine N,N-Dimethyltetradecylamine Ethyleneglycol-di-methacrylate 2-Hydroxy-ethyl-methacrylate 2-Hydroxy-4methoxy-benzophenone Triethylenglycol Triethylenglycol-di-methacrylate Trihexylamine Triphenylphosphine Triphenylstibane Urethane-di-methacrylate These and/or other components of composite fillings have been linked to problems including cytotoxicity, immunosuppression and allergies, at least involving in vitro laboratory studies. The point is not to scare people away from composite fillings (which are considered safe in dental applications), but to make you aware that their long-term effects are much less well known than those of amalgam fillings, which have a good, well documented safety profile. ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/16 "2013-04-23T03:32:55Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > **relesabe** , are you aware of how meaningless the designation “toxin” is unless one specifies the dose? > > _Anything_ is toxic given a sufficient dose, even things essential for life (oxygen, water, elements and minerals vital for normal biochemical processes etc.). > > You are living in a sea of “toxins”, but unless it is demonstrated that the substances in question are are harmful at the doses encountered, they are not toxins at all.Like for example composite fillings? Here are some of the nice chemicals you’ll find in them (I am reproducing just part of the list from [this site](http://www.dentalwatch.org/hg/myths210.html) to spare you possible further anxiety): > > 1,10-Decane-diol-dimethacrylate > Diethyl-amino-ethanol > Diethyleneglycol-di-methacrylate > Dihydroxy-ethyl-p-toluidine > 1,6-Diisocyanato-hexane > 2,6-Diisopropyl-aniline > 4-Dimethylaminobenzoic acid ethyl ester > 2-(4-Dimethyl-aminophenyl)ethanol > Dimethoxybenzoine > Dimethyl-dodecane-amine > Dimethyl-p-toluidine > N,N-Dimethyltetradecylamine > Ethyleneglycol-di-methacrylate > 2-Hydroxy-ethyl-methacrylate > 2-Hydroxy-4methoxy-benzophenone > Triethylenglycol > Triethylenglycol-di-methacrylate > Trihexylamine > Triphenylphosphine > Triphenylstibane > Urethane-di-methacrylate > > These and/or other components of composite fillings have been linked to problems including cytotoxicity, immunosuppression and allergies, at least involving in vitro laboratory studies. > The point is not to scare people away from composite fillings (which are considered safe in dental applications), but to make you aware that their long-term effects are much less well known than those of amalgam fillings, which have a good, well documented safety profile. Cool. Dentistry cannot find a non-toxic filling material? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/17 "2013-04-23T03:51:53Z")
> [@relesabe](#): > > Cool. Dentistry cannot find a non-toxic filling material? Even if it was possible to regenerate dentin and enamel, some woo specialist would find some reason to be afraid of it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/18 "2013-04-23T04:00:15Z")
Why isn’t gold used? Just the cost? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/19 "2013-04-23T04:04:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why isn’t gold used? Just the cost? According to this [lunatic](http://www.cfsn.com/detox.html), even gold isn’t safe. > [@](#): > > Every metal used in dentistry, including gold, titanium, and platinum, has been demonstrated to cause a T-cell mediated immune allergy in some people. > Nickel, a common base metal used in low cost crowns and as a hardening agent in expensive gold crowns, causes immune sensitivity the most often, mercury is the next most reactive metal. **Even gold has a 1 in 3 chance of becoming an immune irritant for a CFS sufferer.** ---
**Author:** ![relesabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@relesabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relesabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816/20 "2013-04-23T04:29:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why isn’t gold used? Just the cost? As for me, I am worried about neurotoxins. And some elements are more toxic than others. Not really sure who is saying what for what reason but Hg fillings date from a time when physicians did not even wash their hands. One final point: Years ago a spokesman for the ADA argued that just as salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine, both dangerous alone but indeed the CHEMICAL COMPOUND is not nearly as dangerous to ingest, amalgams are “safe” because of the combination of Hg and other metals. This is complete nonsense and I wondered if this represented the level of sophistication prevalent among dentists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dental-amalgam-safe/645816.md?page=2)