Dr. Robert L. Mason Does Not Use Amalgam - Caney & Tulsa

Dental amalgam is a metal alloy used to repair cavities caused by tooth decay. It's been in heavy use in the US since the mid-nineteenth century, but it's only recently that the health risks associated with amalgam have been discovered. These health risks are why we don't use any amalgam at Mason’s Smile Shoppe. So, what are these health risks, and why is it so important to avoid mercury fillings?

The Risks of Amalgam Use in Dentistry

Amalgam is often called silver amalgam, but actually contains several metals, including tin, copper, silver, and mercury. It's the last one—mercury—that is of concern when considering the safety of amalgam fillings. That's because mercury toxicity is associated with a long list of health problems, including high blood pressure, tachycardia, nerve damage, immune system damage, and kidney damage. Mercury toxicity can also cause a range of neurological problems such as tremors, personality changes, memory loss, and depression. Many of the symptoms of mercury poisoning are treatable, but if mercury exposure occurs over a long period of time the damage is often irreversible.

In dentistry, amalgam is made of powdered silver, tin, and copper mixed with liquid mercury. This mixture was once thought to be completely inert, and therefore unable to release mercury or its vapor into the oral environment. However, this is now known to be untrue: mercury vapor is released from the amalgam filling as it wears over time. The amount of vapor that's released is low, but high enough that some people are at risk of health problems due to this exposure. Most at risk are people with existing kidney disease, people who have allergic reactions to the mercury, and women who are pregnant.
It's also important to be aware that mercury is considered so toxic there is no safe level of mercury exposure. Even microscopic amounts of mercury have the potential to cause health problems.

Amalgam-Free Dental Care

Because of the risks associated with the use of amalgam in dental care, we've chosen to completely avoid using this material in our dental practice. We feel that even if some of these health risks are as yet unproven, the risks of mercury exposure are well-documented and are reason enough to eliminate the use of amalgam altogether.

The office of Dr. Robert L. Mason is a holistic dental practice with offices in both Tulsa, Oklahoma and Caney Kansas. We offer a unique kind of dental experience where your oral health is considered an essential aspect of your general health. For more information or to make an appointment, give us a call today!