Previously, when an old filling wears out or you had a cavity, your only option was to get another silver filling. However, silver fillings have several drawbacks – edges of silver fillings can wear down and become weak; when fillings break, the tooth is no longer sealed, and cavities get started again. A cavity can develop under a filling, and silver fillings work like a wedge inside the tooth. As the metal contracts and expands with age, it splits the tooth.
Silver fillings, made of 50% mercury, can corrode and leak, producing stains on the teeth and gums. Some people are concerned because of mercury’s toxicity.
