In short: Yes — silver amalgam fillings are considered safe by major dental and health authorities, and have been used for over a century. They contain mercury bound tightly with other metals, and the tiny amounts released are not harmful for the vast majority of people. Many patients now still choose tooth-coloured fillings simply for appearance.
Amalgam fillings — the silver-coloured ones — often raise concern because they contain mercury, so it’s a fair question. The reassuring answer, backed by major health and dental organisations worldwide, is that amalgam fillings are safe for almost everyone.
Here’s the context:
- The mercury in amalgam is chemically bound with silver, tin and copper into a stable, hard material. It’s not the same as free liquid mercury.
- The amount of mercury vapour released (mainly during chewing) is extremely small — far below levels considered harmful — and decades of research have found no link to general health problems in the general population.
- Amalgam has been safely used for over 150 years and remains a durable, effective filling material.
There are a few sensible cautions: a very small number of people have a genuine allergy to a component, and as a precaution some guidelines suggest avoiding placing or removing amalgam during pregnancy unless necessary. Removing existing, sound amalgam fillings “for health reasons” is not recommended — it’s unnecessary and the removal itself releases more mercury than leaving them alone.
That said, most people today choose tooth-coloured fillings — not for safety reasons, but because they look natural and preserve more tooth.
If you’d prefer natural-looking fillings, or want an old filling assessed, book an appointment and we’ll talk through your options, including tooth-coloured fillings.