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Dr. Michelle Jorgensen
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Holistic Health and Wellness
Tooth Remineralization Guide
Free Tooth Remineralization Guide from Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

Are Amalgam Fillings (Mercury Fillings) Dangerous?
Are amalgam mercury fillings dangerous? A biological dentist explains

Are the old silver fillings in your mouth dangerous? It is one of the most emotionally charged questions in dentistry, and you deserve a calm, honest answer rather than fear on one side or dismissal on the other.

I care about this one personally. Early in my career, I practiced conventional dentistry and placed and removed a lot of amalgam fillings. Over time I became seriously ill, and I learned I had developed mercury toxicity from years of drilling them out without protection. That experience is what led me into biological dentistry. So let me share what I have learned, and what the science actually says.

Watch: the history and truth about mercury fillings

In this short video, I walk through where mercury fillings came from, what the real concerns are, and how they can be removed safely. Then I break it all down in writing below.
A molar with a dark silver amalgam (mercury) filling

What amalgam fillings actually are

Amalgam fillings, the classic silver fillings, are not mostly silver. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dental amalgam is roughly 50 percent mercury, mixed with silver, tin, and copper. In fact, surveys suggest that around three in four Americans do not realize the silver filling is mostly mercury at all.

Here is the part most people are never told. Amalgam fillings release a small amount of mercury vapor, and research indicates this happens around the clock, with more released when you chew, brush, grind your teeth, or drink something hot. For decades the assumption was that this amount was too small to matter, and that assumption is exactly what has been getting a closer look.

So are amalgam fillings dangerous?

Here is the honest, balanced answer. For most healthy adults, the FDA and the American Dental Association still consider existing amalgam fillings safe, and there is no call to panic if you have them.

But in 2020 the FDA did something important. It recommended mercury free fillings for groups who may be more vulnerable to mercury, including:

  • Pregnant women and their developing babies, and women planning to become pregnant.
  • Nursing mothers and their infants.
  • Children, especially those under six.
  • People with neurological conditions or impaired kidney function.
  • Anyone with a known sensitivity to mercury or the other metals in amalgam.

In other words, this is not fringe thinking anymore. The nation's own regulator now advises caution for a large slice of the population. That is the reasonable middle ground I stand on too.

Should you rush to have healthy fillings removed?

This is where I want to be very clear, because it matters for your safety. If you have amalgam fillings that are intact and not causing problems, the FDA does not recommend removing them just to remove them. The reason is simple: the act of drilling out an old filling releases more mercury vapor in that moment than leaving it alone would.

That said, amalgam fillings do not last forever. The average one lasts about 8 to 12 years, and as they age they can crack, wear, or leak around the edges. That is often the natural moment to consider replacing an old filling, rather than removing a healthy one on impulse.

So removal is not automatically the safer choice. It is a decision to make thoughtfully, usually when a filling is already failing, cracked, or leaking, when you are in one of the higher risk groups above, or when you and your dentist decide together that replacing it is right for you. When that time comes, how it is removed makes all the difference.
Dr. Michelle's team performing safe amalgam removal with masks, gloves, external oxygen, a dental dam, a body barrier, and high volume suction

If you do remove them, remove them safely

This is the whole point of my story. Removing amalgam without protection is how I got sick. A mercury safe, or biological, dentist uses a specific set of protective steps during removal, like the ones my team is using in the photo above, to reduce your exposure to the vapor and particles. In practice that includes isolating the tooth with a rubber dam, using strong suction right at the tooth, giving you clean air to breathe, adding extra water to keep things cool, and cleaning up carefully afterward.

If you are considering replacing old fillings, look for a dentist trained in this protective approach. At my practice, Total Care Dental, this is exactly the kind of careful, whole body focused care we provide. Wherever you go, ask whether they follow a safe amalgam removal protocol before you book.

Caring for your teeth going forward

Whatever you decide about old fillings, the best long term strategy is to keep your teeth strong so you need fewer of them in the first place. That means a mineral rich diet, good daily habits with solid brushing technique, and clean, fluoride free oral care built around hydroxyapatite, the mineral your enamel is made of.

It is the same holistic approach I take with my own family: fewer questionable materials, more support for what your body already knows how to do.

The bottom line

Are amalgam fillings dangerous? For most healthy adults, existing fillings are considered safe, and there is no need to panic. But amalgam is about half mercury, it does release a small amount of vapor, and the FDA now recommends mercury free materials for pregnant women, young children, and other higher risk groups.

If you choose to replace old fillings, the single most important thing is to have it done safely by a dentist who uses a protective removal protocol. Calm, informed, and careful beats fear every time.

References
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Thinking about replacing old amalgam fillings? Have it done safely by a mercury safe dentist like Total Care Dental, and keep your teeth strong day to day with the free Tooth Remineralization Guide.
Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, DDS

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen is a dentist, author, speaker, and the founder of Living Well with Dr. Michelle. After practicing traditional dentistry for 10 years, she became seriously ill and discovered she had mercury poisoning from removing mercury fillings for her patients. That journey led her into biological and holistic dentistry, where she has spent more than 15 years since.

She founded Total Care Dental and formulated the Living Well line of hydroxyapatite oral care to help families care for their teeth and their whole body health.

Are amalgam or silver fillings dangerous?

For most healthy adults, the FDA and American Dental Association still consider existing amalgam fillings safe. Amalgam is about 50 percent mercury and releases a small amount of mercury vapor over time, and in 2020 the FDA recommended mercury free fillings for higher risk groups such as pregnant women, young children, and people with kidney or neurological conditions.

Should I have my amalgam fillings removed?

Not automatically. The FDA does not recommend removing intact, healthy amalgam fillings just to remove them, because drilling them out releases more mercury vapor at that moment. Replacement makes more sense when a filling is failing or cracked, when you are in a higher risk group, or when you and your dentist decide together it is right for you.

Is it safe to have amalgam fillings removed?

It can be, when it is done with protection. A mercury safe or biological dentist uses steps like isolating the tooth with a rubber barrier, strong suction at the tooth, extra air and water, and careful cleanup to reduce your exposure during removal. Ask any dentist whether they follow a safe amalgam removal protocol before booking.

When did dentists stop using mercury fillings?

Amalgam has been used for well over a century and is still legal, but its use has declined sharply as tooth colored composite and ceramic materials improved. Many practices, including biological and holistic ones, no longer place amalgam at all and use mercury free materials instead.

What are amalgam fillings made of?

Dental amalgam is roughly 50 percent mercury, combined with a powder of silver, tin, and copper. The mercury binds the alloy into a hard, durable filling, which is why the material is inexpensive and long lasting, and also why it is debated.