Are amalgam (silver/mercury) fillings safe?
We do not advocate the removal of existing amalgams solely based on safety concerns, as this is always a personal choice that a patient can make. However, when they need to be replaced, we only use white (composite) fillings. Exposure to mercury is highest when the fillings are initially placed (that is one of the reasons that we do not use them) and when they are removed. We always use rubber dam isolation to minimize mercury exposure when removing old amalgam fillings.
