Dental Amalgam Fillings Recommendations - Graphics
These two graphics provide visualizations of dental amalgam definitions, high-risk populations, and recommendations.
Dental Amalgam Graphic #1
Size: 8.5 x 11 inches, portrait orientation
Text Version of Graphic #1
Dental Amalgam Recommendations
Dental amalgam / uh-mal-guhm /, sometimes called "silver-fillings," is a mixture of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and zinc used to fill cavities in teeth.
What Should I Know Before Getting A Dental Amalgam Filling?
Dental amalgam fillings may release small amounts of mercury in the form of a vapor (gas) that can enter the body through inhalation. While there are no known health risks associated with swallowing small particles of dental amalgam, breathing in mercury vapors may be harmful to certain populations. At this time, the FDA does not support a ban of the use of dental amalgam.
The FDA recommends that high-risk populations (listed below) avoid dental amalgam, if possible and appropriate. Talk to your dental provider about other available treatment options.
Who Is High-Risk and Should Consider Other Treatment Options?
- Children, especially those younger than six
- People with neurological impairment or kidney dysfunction
- People who are sensitive to mercury, silver, copper, tin, or zinc
- Nursing mothers
- Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Should Dental Amalgam Fillings Be Removed?
If your filling is in good condition and your dentist or health care professional says there is no decay below the filling, the FDA recommends you should not have your amalgam filling removed, unless medically necessary.
For more information, please visit www.fda.gov/dental-amalgam
Dental Amalgam Graphic #2
Text Version of Graphic #2
Dental Amalgam Recommendations
WHAT:
Dental amalgam / uh-mal-guhm /, sometimes called "silver-fillings," is a mixture of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and zinc used to fill cavities in teeth. Dental amalgam fillings may release small amounts of mercury in the form of a vapor (gas) that can enter the body through inhalation.
WHO: High-Risk Populations
- Children, especially those younger than six
- Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Nursing mothers
- People with neurological impairment or kidney dysfunction
- People who are sensitive to mercury, silver, copper, tin, or zinc
WHY:
While there are no known health risks associated with swallowing small particles of dental amalgam, breathing in mercury vapors may be harmful to certain groups of people.
The FDA recommends that high-risk populations avoid dental amalgam, if possible and appropriate.
- If your filling is in good condition, the FDA recommends you should not have your amalgam filling removed, unless medically necessary.
- If you are in a high-risk population, talk to your dental provider about other available treatment options.
For more information, please visit www.fda.gov/dental-amalgam