- Posted on: Sep 4 2018
Grand Rapids, MI
One of the greatest threats to your health might be in your mouth. If you have traditional dental fillings, made of amalgam, then these fillings actually could disrupt your immune system and make you more susceptible to disease. Your Grand Rapids cosmetic dentist at A Life of Smiles wants to educate you regarding the potential toxic health dangers of metal fillings.
Traditional fillings, also known as dental metal fillings or dental amalgams, are made with metals that can have a severe negative effect on your body and wellness. For example, one metal that is a key component of an amalgam filling is mercury, which is highly toxic. Dental amalgam fillings release mercury vapors into the mouth anytime you eat or chew. These vapors can cause immunological, neurological or physiological problems—especially in children, whose bodies and brains still are developing.
One lesser-known risk associated with metallic fillings is a condition known as oral galvanism, which occurs when saliva interacts with the metals present in your fillings, potentially causing oral lesions and other health conditions, including autoimmune problems. How does this happen? Specifically, the various metals used to make amalgam fillings interact with your saliva, generating a small level of electrical current. Another consequence of this interaction is galvanic corrosion—which can cause irritation or other symptoms of an apparent allergy. A frequently reported symptom of galvanic corrosion is a metallic taste inside the mouth.
Mercury is known for its high toxicity levels.
Research dating back for decades has pointed to the potential dangers of using mercury in dental work. In 1994, a research study found a link between dental amalgams and the build-up of mercury and silver in the spleen and liver. Nine years later, in 2003, another research project linked mercury in dental work to susceptibility to autoimmune disease.
The dangers of mercury are compounded due to certain advances in medical technology, such as MRI machines, which can leach out mercury in higher amounts. For these reasons, your cosmetic dentists at A Life of Smiles advise against receiving any fillings made of dental amalgam.
Metal-free dentistry in Grand Rapids
At A Life of Smiles, we offer tooth-colored fillings to our patients. These fillings contain zero metal. They are made of a composite substance that can be matched to the shade of your other natural, healthy teeth, and the substance can be sculpted to look indistinguishable from real teeth. In addition to having no metal—and no health threats due to the presence of substances such as mercury—these fillings look and feel more like natural teeth. Tooth-colored fillings also are less reactive to the temperature changes that occur naturally in the mouth when you eat and drink. Amalgam fillings expand and contract during these temperature changes, increasing the likelihood they will crack or fail.
Your Holland cosmetic dentists, Dr. Jerry Mulder and Dr. Allyson Mulder, also can install tooth-colored fillings as a replacement for your existing dental amalgams. This not only safeguards you from the dangers of amalgam fillings but also provides you with an aesthetically pleasing smile.
To learn more about our tooth-colored fillings, or any other procedures at our state-of-the-art cosmetic dental practice, contact us at (616) 458-0631 to schedule a consultation.
A Life of Smiles is proud to offer cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry to patients in the areas of Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Holland in Michigan.
Posted in: Metal-Free Fillings