I heard that mercury was once used in dental fillings?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Missy (McCain/Palin '08!)
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Missy (McCain/Palin '08!)

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Isn't it poisonous? Did it kill people or was it even enough to do harm?
 
"Silver" fillings contain mercury; they are often referred to as "mercury amalgam" fillings. And yes, they are still in common use, though many dentists are switching to white fillings which have no mercury, and many people who have silver fillings are having them removed and replaced with white fillings.

Yes, mercury is poisonous -- even a small amount can do great harm. Yes, the use of mercury in dental work has been linked to many health problems.

Some dentists believe that because the mercury is such a small amount and it is contained within the filling, it is harmless.
 
it was and still is.

Silver fillings are a composite of silver, copper and zinc dissolved in a mercury "amalgam" That is, silver fillings are a mercury alloy that contains about 50% mercury by mass.

according to the wiki article, which I tend to believe, only 1/3 of all US dentists are mercury free. And the issue of the toxicity of the fillings is certainly a real issue...

read about it here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_amalgam_controversy
 
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