Symptoms of an amalgam allergy appear within hours to days of exposure and usually resolve on their own. They include:

• Skin rashes in the oral, head and neck area
• Itching
• Swollen lips
• Localized eczema-like lesions in the oral cavity

In addition to compiling a medical history and a list of symptoms, a physician trying to diagnose an amalgam allergy will conduct a full physical examination of the patient.

Because amalgam allergy symptoms resemble those of a skin allergy such as contact dermatitis, most physicians use a skin patch test to diagnose amalgam reactions. In this test, an absorbent pad is soaked with an allergen such as mercury and taped onto the skin of the patient for 24 to 72 hours.

Blood tests cannot easily detect amalgam allergies and are not often used in the diagnosis of this condition.

Symptoms related to amalgam allergy usually require no treatment and will disappear on their own within a few days of exposure. However, in some instances an amalgam filling will have to be removed and replaced with a filling made of another restorative material, such as resin, porcelain or gold.

The best way for a dentist to prevent an amalgam allergy when repairing a tooth is to use another substance, such as tooth-colored resin, porcelain or gold fillings. However, these substances are both more expensive and less pliable than amalgam. There is no single alternative to amalgam that can be used in all restoration procedures. Different substances are used depending on the tooth to be repaired and the size of the repair.