These are the ones you have in your mouth now.

Great controversy has been brewing about their toxicity. But to me the toxicity issue is irrelevant.

I almost never place one of these fillings any more, however. Because they are “parasites” upon the strength of the tooth. And the alternative, a bonded composite filling is a “co-partner” in strengthening the tooth. Never mind that mercury free fillings are also almost invisible. They make the tooth much stronger than fillings could even 6 years ago.

Mercury/silver fillings do expand over time and split the tooth eventually. This has been the source of controversy ever since they were discovered in the 18th century. It was debated severely whether or not to use them, when the standard was the excellent cast gold and pure gold foil. The issue of toxicity was not even known about. The debate was instead over splitting of teeth. According to my copy of G.V. Black’s original textbook! It was finally decided that since so many people could not afford gold dental work that the only “Hippocratic” way to save teeth was to offer mercury/silver fillings to the public. The alternative was simply amputation! And dentists were ready to stop being “Barbers with Pliers”. The past 70 years or so the splitting of teeth has been greatly reduced due to advances in metallurgy. But eventually they still begin to expand more than is tolerable by your tooth.

Another reason I have stopped doing them is that to take them out, I have to give you a shot. And to replace a composite filling I don’t have to do that most of the time. I can usually use air abrasion or laser with no shot being necessary.