Amalgam is a filling ingredient that is used to fill up cavities that are caused by the decay of a tooth. It is a mix of metals that consists of liquid mercury and an alloy in powder form made of tin, copper and silver. Amalgam is made of 50% elemental mercury. Because of the chemical properties of elemental mercury, it can react and bind with silver, copper, and alloy particles of tin and form amalgam. These amalgam fillings are also called ‘silver fillings as their appearance is very similar to silver.
Why is the procedure of ‘Amalgam Filling’ recommended?
The procedure of Amalgam Filling is recommended when a patient has a cavity on the root area below the gumline because of which completely controlling moisture is not possible.
When a cavity comes under a crown at the meeting point of the crown and tooth.
Consulting a doctor is recommended here totally.
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Who can perform the amalgam filling procedure?
A dental therapist can do the amalgam filling procedure.
It is a simple process.
The standard procedure for a simple, uncomplicated filling is about an hour.
The recovery period from an amalgam filling is two to four weeks.
How is the amalgam filling procedure conducted?
Firstly the dental therapist will numb the tooth with the application of local anaesthesia. When the tooth is numbed the tooth is prepared and the filling is placed carving it smoothly with the nearby tooth. If the filling comes between the teeth then a band is placed to help place and shape the filling in the shape of the tooth. This amalgam filling takes up to a day to set in between and one should refrain from chewing on the filling part till the next day.
After the filling process is done the tooth can feel a bit sensitive for some days which would reduce in the next few weeks.
Benefits of the amalgam filling procedure
Some of the benefits of the amalgam filling procedure are:-
- These are long-lasting and strong because of which they are less likely to break in comparison to other types of fillings.
- These are useful for patients who have a higher risk of tooth decay, who have a larger tooth preparation to be done and where moisture makes it tough for other materials like resins to make a bond with the tooth.
- It is the cheapest type of filling material.
- It has been used for more than 150 years for millions of patients around the world.
Complications of the amalgam filling procedure
Some of the complications of the amalgam filling procedure are:-
- Exposure to mercury vapors– The amalgam filling procedure contains elemental mercury. It releases mercury as vapor which can be inhaled by the lungs. Exposure to high levels of this vapor of mercury can have adverse effects on the brain and kidneys.
- Detrimental for pregnant women and children– Mercury exposure can lead to negative health effects for pregnant women and their developing fetuses, women planning to get pregnant, nursing women and their newborns, children below the age of 6 yrs, people having neurological diseases, people with damaged kidneys, and people having an allergy to mercury or other components like silver, copper etc. They can develop oral lesions or sensitivity reactions if they use mercury-containing amalgam.
- Headaches– The mercury vapors lead to throbbing headaches.
- The tingling sensation in the feet– The mercury in amalgam leads to a tingling sensation felt in the feet which sometimes numbs it too.
- Impaired faculties of speech, hearing or movement– The amalgam filling can also lead to difficulty in speech, hearing and limb movements for some time.
- Muscular weakness– The amalgam filling procedure can also lead to weakness in body muscles making one lethargic.
- Insomnia– Amalgam filling also leads to lack of sleep or insomnia.
- Coordination issues– Amalgam filling can also lead to balancing and coordination
problems.
- Peripheral vision problems– Amalgam filling can also lead to peripheral vision issues where the peripheral retina is somewhat damaged.
- The mental deficiencies- Amalgam filling also leads to mental issues and memory loss.
- Irritability, mood swings- The amalgam-filling process also leads to behavioral changes, mood swings and irritability as experienced by patients.
- Damaged organs- The mercury present in dental amalgam travels all over the body inside different organs. The patients who have undergone the amalgam fillings process have higher amounts of mercury in their kidneys and brains.
- Damaged nervous system– Exposure to mercury is damaging to the nervous
the system as it harms the nerve cells badly.
- Neurobehavioral modifications– The mercury in amalgam fillings has been linked to
changes in behavior, especially in children.
Conclusion
Amalgam is a dental filling ingredient that is used to fill up cavities that are caused by tooth decay. It is a mix of metals that consists of liquid or elemental mercury and an alloy powder made of tin, silver and copper. These are also called silver fillings as they are silverish in appearance. The process of amalgam filling is done by a dental therapist. The amalgam filling is very strong and lasts for a longer time. It is a cheaper process than others. It is an age-old procedure and a reliable one. Though it has some risks too like the presence of elemental mercury which has detrimental effects on the health of humans. So it is recommended that if anyone has tooth issues one should contact a dental therapist and focus on solving the issue on a priority basis.
Request an appointment Apollo Dental Silchar Or, Call 1800 1020 288 and book an appointment Or click on this link
Amalgam is a dental filling ingredient that is used to fill cavities caused by the decay of a tooth. It is a mix of metals that consists of liquid mercury and an alloy in powder form made of tin, copper and silver.
Amalgam used in dentistry is half elemental mercury.
The process of amalgam filling can be done by a dental therapist.
The process of amalgam filling is a simple process. The recovery period of amalgam filling process is 2 to 4 weeks.
