Should I be afraid of mercury poisoning if I have metal fillings?

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Metal (also known as amalgam) fillings are a topic that is hotly debated. The debate stems from the fact that metal fillings contain mercury.  As a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) I tend to trust that they are guiding us with a foundation of science and evidence. The ADA still supports the placement of amalgam fillings and has found no health risks from having them placed in your teeth. The mercury is locked into the filling.

 I no longer place amalgam fillings because the composite fillings are a long lasting solution and they look much nicer. The older amalgam fillings tend to cause teeth to fracture and break after several decades. While there is not enough long term evidence to confirm this will not happen with composite fillings, it will likely be either the same or better. 

 I still have amalgam fillings in my mouth and I plan to leave them there until a problem arises, but as that happens I plan to replace them with composite. This is the same recommendation I give to my patients.
For more information on amalgam fillings please visit https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ada-positions-policies-and-statements/statement-on-dental-amalgam or https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/fillings-silver-colored.

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