Amalgam is a strong, stable substance used to repair tooth decay and cavities. Amalgam restorations are popularly known as silver fillings. They are composed of a metal alloy (mixture) chemically bound to elemental mercury. Silver usually makes up the bulk of the alloy, with copper and tin being the other common metals. Additional metals that may be used in the alloy include indium, palladium and zinc.

Mercury is added to the alloy in a less than 1:1 ratio. According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), mercury is the only element that has the properties necessary to bind the alloy together in a form that is effective for filling cavities.

Amalgam is a safe, durable and affordable material that has been used in dental fillings for over 100 years. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), amalgam has been used in over 100 million Americans and is the most commonly used material in the United States to fill cavities in the back of the mouth. The AGD estimates that over 1 billion individual amalgam fillings are placed every year.

Questions about the safety of the mercury in amalgam have been raised by some people. However, various health organizations such as the ADA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) agree that there are no well-designed scientific studies that indicate a connection between amalgam and problems with a patient’s general health. According to the ADA, the makeup of the metal alloy used in amalgam makes the mercury stable and safe for use. This chemical reaction is similar to the combination of two potentially hazardous substances (sodium and chlorine) that produces common table salt. Amalgam has been researched, tested, studied and reviewed more thoroughly than any other restorative material in modern dentistry and has been repeatedly found to be safe and effective.