Silver-mercury fillings have been the filling material of choice for most dentists for many years. Most dentists still do provide this filling material. We no longer provide this material for several reasons:

1. Silver-mercury fillings are ugly. They turn teeth black once they've been in a tooth for some time. If you have to have a filling placed then why not make it look like a tooth when it is restored?
2. Silver fillings are 50% mercury. Thus, just like a thermometer, they shrink and swell with different temperatures. As a result, large silver fillings often crack teeth, resulting in the need for expensive root canal and/or crown treatment.
3. A number of European countries have either banned or have a timetable for banning silver-mercury fillings due to their concerns over mercury release from these fillings. Studies have shown that a silver-mercury filling, which is 50% mercury, has no more mercury left after 20 years. Since mercury is a toxin, many people are concerned about this release of mercury from their fillings.
4. A major U.S. manufacturer of silver-mercury fillings, the Caulk Company, has recently begun cautioning against placement of silver-mercury fillings in pregnant and nursing mothers, children under the age of 7, and people with kidney disease.
5. According to most major scientific studies and the American Dental Association, silver-mercury fillings are safe to use. However, we feel enough research shows that bonded restorations actually strengthen teeth as well as look better, and thus we do not offer silver-mercury to our patients. We are not zealots about removal of the fillings for health reasons. Rather, we feel that there are superior restorative choices available.