MEDICINE

Viewpoint: Yes, the mercury used in dental fillings is dangerous to human health and can cause a variety of adverse effects.

Viewpoint: No, the mercury used in dental fillings does not pose a significant threat to human health. To the contrary, mercury-based fillings are safe, affordable, and durable.

Although dentists have used dental amalgam to repair cavities in the teeth for more than 150 years, since the 1970s there have been claims that the mercury in dental fillings is responsible for a variety of health problems. Dental amalgam, the material used in so-called silver fillings, is a crystalline alloy composed of mercury (approximately 50%), silver, tin, and copper.

When made aware of the composition of dental amalgams, many people worry about the possibility...