Dental amalgam is an alloy that results from the trituration of powdered silver, tin and copper, which hardens quickly to a solid phase. Dental amalgams have been used as the main restorative in teeth for more than 150 years. It is a popular restorative material because it can be easily manipulated and is relatively inexpensive.
Mercury exposure from mercury dental fillings, also known as “silver” fillings and “amalgams”, is a life long threat. When a person chews, drinks, swallows and breathes, mercury releases from dental fillings and is absorbed by the lungs and the lining of the digestive system which than passes into the bloodstream. As they corrode over time, mercury fillings release even more ionized mercury into the saliva, tooth pulp and gum tissues leading to the digestive system and bloodstream.
