Dental Amalgam is SAFE, Reaffirms ADA

Filed in archive Diagnostics , Studies , Treatment on September 9, 2006

The American Dental Association (ada) has recently reaffirmed its position that dental amalgam is a safe and effective cavity-filling material.

In a written testimony to a two-day joint panel meeting the USFDA, the ADA noted that it does not endorse the use of one dental material over another, however it advocates the principle that patients and their dentists should have access to the full range of safe and effective options for treating dental decay.

Dental amalgam is made from a safe, stable alloy containing elemental mercury combined with other metals such as silver, copper, tin and zinc. Due to its elemental mercury content that concerns about its potential health effects have been raised and its continued use in dentistry have been questioned by some groups.

For generations, dental amalgam have been preferably used to fill decayed teeth over other available dental filling materials because of its strength, durability, affordability and most especially because it can be used below the gum line, which is difficult to keep dry.

It is critical that dental fillings can be placed in a wet environment and should harden quickly, most especially when used with patients like children or people with disabilities, who might have difficulty sitting still during treatment.

There are previously huge scientific evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of dental amalgam, including the new clinical trial results (published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association) presented by the ADA that should keep dental amalgam continuously available to dentists and their patients.

Source: American Dental Association (ADA)