The Effects of Dental Amalgam on the Environment

Environmental Impact of Dental Amalgam The treatment of dental amalgam, especially mercury has been controversial over the past 20 years. Due to concerns raised by this problem, much research has been done on the influence of mercury on the environment and humans. Amalgam is the most commonly used material in dental restorations because amalgam is low cost, easy to use and stable, so amalgam is the most commonly used material (Chin et al., 2000). The basic ingredients include silver, tin, copper, mercury.

Dental amalgam is a mixture of liquid (elemental) mercury and metal consisting of silver, tin, copper powder alloy. Approximately 50% of dental amalgam is elemental mercury. The chemical nature of elemental mercury makes it possible for it to react with silver / copper / tin alloy particles and combine them to form amalgam. Once the dental amalgam is in place, the dentist first dents the tooth to remove caries and then shapes the cavity to place the amalgam filling. Then, under appropriate safety conditions, the dentist mixes the powder alloy with liquid mercury to form an amalgam putty. (As shown, these components are supplied to the dentist in capsule form.) The softened amalgam putty is placed and molded in a prepared cavity where it solidifies rapidly into a solid filler .

Dental amalgam fillings contain mercury and other metals. Many studies have addressed concerns about the potential problems of mercury amalgamation in dental amalgams as mercury has long been considered to be toxic to humans. Most scientific studies have shown that there is no relationship between amalgam stuffing and symptoms of mercury poisoning in any age group, but some show allergic reactions to these stuffings. The research continues to expand knowledge about the potential impact of amalgam fillings on certain populations, especially fetuses, breastfeeding and infants.

In 1998, the ADA Scientific Committee published the first important commentary on the scientific literature on dental amalgam. The report also said, "There seems to be no reason to stop using amalgam for dental use," an article published in the February 1999 issue of the American Dental Association journal reported that "Alzheimer's disease and number" There is no big correlation. "And" There is no statistically significant difference in mercury levels in the brain between the history of Alzheimer's disease patients and the control group. "