Amalgam Dental Fillings as the Source of Mercury Exposure and Alternative Solutions

Year 2023, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 7 - 13, 31.12.2023

Yousef Alashhab Asmaa A. Abdeewi İdris Kabalcı

Abstract

The amalgam filling plays a major role in restorative dentistry when applied and has additional strength due to its contents, such as mercury and other alloys that could be Cooper, Silver, Tin, or Zinc. A concern has been raised that amalgam causes mercury toxicity and two primary organs are the kidney and the central nervous system that are affected by Hg poisoning.The objective of the present study is to examine new dental amalgam fillings and old amalgam fillings removed from patııent's teeth in term of a potential cause of mercury exposure, in addition to the alternative dental fillings. The technique of this study is a metallographic evaluation by using the rapid analytical technique of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, the specimens used have been obtained from a different set of amalgam fillings, to measure the mercury present in an unmixed sample, a mixed sample according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and dental amalgam fillings that had been in the patient's theeth after filling them for 15 and 20 years to analyze exposure to mercury by comparison.
Mercury unmixed sample contains on silver Tin 64% and Copper Zinc 36% While mixed samples contain of Silver Mercury 63% and Copper Tin 37%, the sample after 15 years’ dental amalgam filling induced when the Silver mercury contain is increased to 84% and low Copper Tin 16%, While the sample after 20 years’ dental amalgam filling containing approximately Silver Mercury contain is 80% and Copper Tin 20%.

Keywords

Amalgam, Mercury exposure, XRD, Alloys

Supporting Institution

Karabük University

Project Number

BAP_151-DS-40

Thanks

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Iron and Steel Institute, Karabük University, Türkiye, for laboratory and experimental facilities. This work was supported by BAP_151-DS-40 Grant numbers in the Iron and Steel Institute, Karabük University, Türkiye.

References

• Bengtsson U.G., Hylander L.D. (2017). Increased mercury emissions from modern dental amalgams. Biometals. 30(2), 277–83
• Shenoy A. (2008). Is it the end of the road for dental amalgam? A critical review. J. Conserv Dent JCD. 11(3), 99
• Mason H.J., Hindell P., Williams N.R. (2001). Biological monitoring and exposure to mercury. Occup Med (Chic Ill).51(1), 2–11
• Palkovicova L., Ursinyova M., Masanova V., Yu Z., Hertz-Picciotto I. (2008). Maternal amalgam dental fillings as the source of mercury exposure in developing fetus and newborn. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol.18(3), 326–31
• Vimy M.J., Takahashi Y., Lorscheider F.L. (1990). Maternal-fetal distribution of mercury (203Hg) released from dental amalgam fillings. Am J. Physiol Integr Comp Physiol. 258(4), R939–45
• Takahashi Y., Tsuruta S., Hasegawa J., Kameyama Y., Yoshida M. (2001). Release of mercury from dental amalgam fillings in pregnant rats and distribution of mercury in maternal and fetal tissues. Toxicology. 163(2–3),115–26
• Pizzichini M, Fonzi M, Giannerini F, Mencarelli M, Gasparoni A, Rocchi G. (2003). Influence of amalgam fillings on Hg levels and total antioxidant activity in plasma of healthy donors. Sci Total Environ. 301(1–3),43–50
• Christensen G.J. Longevity of posterior tooth dental restorations. (2005). J Am Dent Assoc. 136(2),201–3
• Roeters J.J.M., Shortall A.C.C., Opdam N.J.M. (2005). Can a single composite resin serve all purposes? Br Dent J. 199(2),73–9
• Burke .FJ.T., Shortall A.C.C. (2001). Successful restoration of load-bearing cavities in posterior teeth with direct-replacement resin-based composite. Dent Update. 28(8),388–98
• Christensen G.J. (1998). Amalgam vs. composite resin: 1998. J. Am Dent Assoc. 129(12),1757–9
• Lynch C.D., McConnell R.J. (2002). The cracked tooth syndrome. Journal-Canadian Dent Assoc. 68(8),470–5
• Wilson N.H.F., Dunne S.M., Gainsford I.D. (1997). Current materials and techniques for direct restorations in posterior teeth: Part 2: resin composite systems. Int Dent J. 47(4):185–93
• Uo M, Berglund A, Cardenas J, Pohl L, Watari F, Bergman M. (2003). Surface analysis of dental amalgams by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Dent Mater, 19(7),639–44
• Talik E, Babiarz-Zdyb R, Dziedzic A. (2005). Chemical characterization of selected high copper dental amalgams using XPS and XRD techniques. J Alloys Compd, 398(1–2),276–82
• Bahari M, Oskoee P.A., Oskoee S.S., Pouralibaba F, Ahari A.M. (2016). Mercury release of amalgams with various silver contents after exposure to bleaching agent. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects, 10(2),118
• Bengtsson, Ulf G., LDH. springer.com. (2017). www.springerlink.com
• Reinhardt J. W., Chan Kai C., Schulein T. M. (1983) Mercury vaporization during amalgam removal. J. Prosth Dent. 50,62-64.
• Richards J. M., Warren P. J. (1985). Mercury vapour released during the removal of old amalgam restorations. Br Dent J. 52,231-232.