Which filling material is better; silver or tooth colored?
Silver fillings (amalgams) have been used successfully and safely since the early 1800’s. It is one of the few inexpensive materials that can withstand the wear and tear of your mouth. It is an excellent choice for large buildup fillings prior to crowning or for larger fillings where you want to get more chew miles before crowning. There has been some controversy about one of the ingredients (mercury) in silver fillings. When combined with the other ingredients, silver, zinc, tin, and copper, it becomes bound down in a non-toxic form. There have not been any scientific studies that have shown silver fillings to be a great health hazard.
