FDA Reaffirms the Safety of Amalgam Fillings

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of amalgam fillings.

George Washington's Teeth: He didn't need any fillings!

According to the American Dental Academy, the FDA ruling "issued today categorizes encapsulated dental amalgam as a class II medical device, placing it in the same class as gold and tooth-colored composite fillings. "





"Dental amalgam is a cavity-filling material made by combining mercury with other metals such as silver, copper and tin. Numerous scientific studies conducted over the past several decades, including two large clinical trials published in the April 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association, indicate dental amalgam is a safe, effective cavity-filling material for children and others. And, in its 2009 review of the scientific literature on amalgam safety, the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs reaffirmed that the scientific evidence continues to support amalgam as a valuable, viable and safe choice for dental patients." Read the entire ADA statement here.





Amalgam fillings or "silver fillings" are a valuable tool in the appropriate situation. Growing Smiles also uses composite or "white fillings" in the appropriate situation or when the parent prefers them for aesthetic reasons. Feel free to discuss any concerns or preferences you may have with me or with my team members regarding any issues you may have with your child's dental treatment at Growing Smiles.





Read the full FDA release by clicking here.





Click here to read the full statement by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.