Dear Valued Patient,

In the best interest of our patients and staff, our office no longer provides amalgam (silver) fillings. Our reasons are as follows:

Amalgam contains mercury. The release of trace amounts of mercury vapor into the body from amalgam fillings is a serious concern for many. The question is, is it harmful? We have decided not to take that risk. We used bonded acrylic resin exclusively as an alternative. Although the FDA and the American Dental Association still approve amalgram restorations, a number of European countries have outlawed their use.

Amalgam is a metal based filling that expands as it sets. This stresses the tooth causing sensitivity and predisposes the tooth to microfractures.

Metal conducts hot and cold causing sensitivity.

Mixing the amalgam is another concern for us. Mercury vapor is released during the trituration process exposing our staff and patients daily.

Because acrylic resin is bonded to the tooth structure, mechanical retention is not critical; therefore, we can be more conservative when removing tooth structure. In other words, we only drill away what needs to be removed leaving more healthy tooth untouched.

Lastly, the tooth colored filling material blends naturally with the tooth, creating a restoration that is durable and cosmetically pleasing. While amalgram is initially silver in color, after a yaer or two it turns nearly black due to surface corrosion.

We hope this clarifies our decision. We certainly encourage you to call us with any questions you may have about our treatment procedures.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ziegenhorn and Staff