There are both pros and cons of silver amalgam fillings, and while most dentists and patients are currently moving to white composite fillings, there are still some great advantages of silver amalgam fillings. Let's take a look at both the pros and cons:

Pros:
1.    Money: Silver amalgam fillings are less expensive than other options.
2.    Faster: Silver amalgam fillings can be placed much faster than a composite, so if you do not want to be in your dental office all day, this is a great option. Composite fillings, if they are done correctly, take about 60% longer, require special expertise and expensive materials, and are more difficult to place, and so they cost considerably more than silver.
3.    Any dentist can do one. General dentists can place amalgam without extra training. Composite requires the use of special bonding technology that many dentists are uncomfortable with, and that is not taught in general dentistry, but requires after school training to be done correctly.
4.    Easy to place, and more comfortable for patients. A silver amalgam filling does not require this strict isolation of the tooth. So, if your tooth is in the front or back of the mouth it doesn't matter a whole lot. The proper placement of a white composite filling requires that the site for the filling be kept totally isolated from saliva while it is being placed. In the very back of the mouth, on some patients, it is difficult to keep the tooth isolated for the duration of the procedure. This can also be uncomfortable for some patients.
5.    Strong. The filling by itself is a stronger material than white composite.
6.    History. Silver fillings have a long history of use, thus some feel that they are more tried and tested, dentists likely have tons and tons of experience placing them, and the technique is pretty much whittled down to a T as it has been used for so long.
7.    Hold up better. Silver amalgam fillings do not deteriorate with alcohol consumption, at least not nearly as fast as composite fillings. Composite fillings can be seriously weakened by excessive alcohol consumption. If you have a habit of drinking beverages with high alcohol content (whiskey, etc.) on a daily basis, you may find the composite fillings deteriorating prematurely, but silver amalgam fillings will last.

Cons:
1.    Looks. Silver fillings look ugly. Even if it is in your back teeth and molars, silver fillings are not as nice looking as white composite. Most people find this con to be the deciding factor when choosing between silver and white fillings. When fillings that can so closely match tooth color are available, it is difficult to opt for something that stands out so bad.
2.    Weakens tooth. While the material itself is stronger, it weakens the surrounding tooth, which in the long run could lead to greater expense as repairing fractured teeth is expensive.
3.    Mercury. One of the main reasons people switch from silver amalgam fillings to white composite is white composite is mercury free. Mercury can leach from the filling into your body, can collect in the kidneys etc, and lead to several health issues. So, it is environmentally and physiologically better for you not to have mercury fillings in your mouth.

White fillings versus silver, which is better, what are the advantages and disadvantages, etc.
Your dentist will be able to advise you on which is better for you, but for now, take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Strength.

White: Since white fillings bond to the tooth, they restore most of the original strength of the tooth.
Silver: Silver weakens the teeth, making them more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth are very expensive to restore, composites can save a lot of expense over the long run.

Looks

White: white fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth.
Silver: Clearly, silver fillings look silver in the mouth, and do not look nearly as nice.

Sensitivity

White: Teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold, and for a shorter period of time.
Silver: Teeth restored with silver fillings are typically hot and cold sensitive for several weeks, and sometimes months, after.

Toxins

White: White fillings are mercury-free. Mercury in the fillings is viewed by some as being toxic, and can lead to many other health issues.
Silver: Silver fillings contain mercury that can leach into your body systems.

Tooth removal

White: White fillings require less removal of tooth structure. Especially with new cavities, the size of the hole made for the filling can be dramatically smaller with white fillings.
Silver: The amount of tooth removed is much higher than that of fillings done with white composite.
 
Expense

White: White fillings take longer, and require extra skill, and thus are much more expensive.
Silver: Silver fillings are generally less expensive. White composite fillings, if they are done correctly, take about 60% longer, require special expertise and expensive materials, and are more difficult to place, and so they cost considerably more than silver.

Insurance

White: Many dental insurance companies will not pay for white composite fillings.
Silver: Most dental insurance will pay for silver fillings.

Dentist

White: White fillings requires the use of special bonding technology and require extra training that many dentists are uncomfortable with or have not undergone.
Silver: General dentists can place silver without extra training. Thus you have more choice of dentists to see

Ease of placement

White: It can be very difficult to place. The proper placement of a white filling requires that the site for the filling be kept totally isolated from saliva while it is being placed. This can be very uncomfortable especially if the tooth is in the back of the mouth.
Silver:  A silver amalgam filling does not require this strict isolation of the tooth, and thus is much easier to place.

History

White: white fillings have not been around as long, and while they are better technology, for some dentists, not all the kinks have been worked out.
Silver: silver fillings have a long history and are more tried and tested.

As you can see there are pros and cons to both types of fillings, but as a general rule you can bet that white composite fillings take the advantage. They are newer, and have a few drawbacks, but they are better technology, look nicer, and can withstand similar amounts of pressure as the silver fillings can without the drawback of having mercury. So, if you are unsure, go with the white composite fillings.

Many people choose to replace their old fillings after some years of wear and tear. Even though in the past fillings were made of silver amalgam, like anything else that experiences wear and tear, amalgam fillings eventually do wear out and have to be replaced.

So, let's take a look at some of the benefits of replacing old fillings:
1.    If it is an old filling, chances are it is a silver amalgam filling, and many patients today are electing to replace them for cosmetic reasons as white composite fillings better match the natural color of your teeth, and basically look better. In many cases they can be made to look totally natural and you wouldn't even know there was a filling present.
2.    Once again, if your fillings are old, you may wish to replace them for environmental reasons, which is also a big benefit because new composite fillings do not have mercury in them, as the old silver amalgam fillings did.
3.    Another benefit of replacing old fillings is that there is not hundreds of choices for what you want to have as your filling, as well as what color. So, filling options have really advanced, you can use any number of metals, or the most popular option, white composite.
4.    Another huge benefit is health. Believe it or not, if you have amalgam fillings you could be at risk for higher likelihood of depression, memory loss, and many other problems. Why? Because these fillings contain mercury. Each amalgam filling in your tooth releases up to 17 mcg of mercury each day. This increases up to 500 mcg if you smoke cigarettes, drink of hot liquids, chew gum regularly, have acidic saliva, or grind your teeth at night. Mercury accumulates in the brain, heart, kidneys, and endocrine glands and can cause depression, autoimmune diseases, memory loss, tremors, anemia and heart attacks. So, replacing them could really be good for your health.
5.    Stronger teeth. While the material of many old fillings is actually very strong, it requires a significant amount of tooth structure to be removed which results in weaker teeth. Also, the filling itself, due to the way it is placed weakens the surrounding tooth. Composite fillings, and the way they are bonded to the tooth do not weaken the tooth, rather they restore it to its original strength. So, it can cost you less money down the road to replace a filling if it means stronger teeth.
6.    More effective. If your fillings are old, they have experienced some real wear and tear with all the chewing, chomping, and grinding that takes place each day, so make sure they do not fall out, and that they last and protect your tooth from greater infection and decay by getting old fillings replaced.
As you can see there are many benefits of replacing old fillings with new. It is certainly up to you, however, most insurances will cover the cost if it is recommended by a dentist. When you do have your fillings replaced it is best to use a dentist who is skilled in removing old fillings and replacing with new, and can do so quickly, efficiently and with as little sensitivity afterward as possible.

Despite all the advances in dental technologies today there remains the common problem of losing dental fillings.  A person may be enjoying dinner only to find themselves biting down on something hard and loose in their mouth.  Then a sinking feeling sets in with the realization that an old filling has fallen out!  Whether you have only a little dental work or an entire mouthful no one wants to have a an old filling fall out.  This is somewhat an unavoidable situation. To understand why old fillings fall out it may be helpful to have a basic understanding of how and why a filling is used. 

A filling is called what it is because that is what it does.  A dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and "fill" the area on the tooth. There is variety of materials that can be used.   This treats the cavity that has resulted from where the decayed material was on the tooth.  Cracked or broken teeth are also treated with fillings.  This also includes teeth that have been worn down from misuse.  This can happen as a result of many different unhealthy dental habits such as nail-biting, teeth-grinding or ice chewing.

There may be some short-term side effects from having a filling done.  The most common of these side effects is tooth sensitivity following placement of the filling.  This sensitivity may include having the tooth be sensitive to pressure, air, sweet foods, or temperature. This is usually just a short term situation and resolves on its own within a few weeks. While pain relievers are usually not required the patient should avoid those things that are causing the sensitivity. Any tooth sensitivity that does not resolve within 2-4 weeks or grows worse over time is an adequate reason to contact the dentist who orginally did the filling. Many dentist recommend using desensitizing toothpaste or applying a desensitizing agent to the tooth.  If this does not help the problem than the next course of treatment may be a root canal. 

Pain can occur around the filling.  The most common cause of the pain is failure to adjust the bite after the filling is done.  If the patient is experiencing pain when they bite the filling must be reshaped while on a return visit to the dentist.  If the pain occurs when the teeth touch it is most likely caused by the touching of two different metal surfaces.  For example this can happen between the silver amalgam in a newly filled tooth and a gold crown on a adjoining tooth.  In a short period of time this should resolve or a dentist should be consulted.

So why do old fillings fall out?  Excessive grinding or clenching of the teeth can cause extreme wear on dental fillings.  Even normal activity (biting and chewing) can cause fillings to wear away, chip or crack. Thankfully dental technology has progressed from the days of only pulling affected teeth.  But not very many years ago dental fillings were at best a somewhat primitive endeavor due to the lack of highly specialized tools available today.   In addition a lack of long-lasting materials, inferior workmanship and placement can cause old fillings to fall out. Many of today's patients having fillings redone had the original fillings put in when the materials and technique for filling teeth was not as long-lasting or advanced as it is today.   Sometimes it does occur that new fillings fall out as well this is usually a problem in the placement of the filling and the dentist should be re-consulted about this problem as quickly as possible.  This will help minimize any further damage to the already exposed tooth.

When you go to the dentist because you have a cavity, you generally will get a filling. You have one of two options, silver amalgam or white composite. So how do you know which one to choose? That is a personal choice, but here are 5 reasons to get white composite fillings:

1. They look better: Composite fillings are called white, but can be slightly off white as well. They are intended to restore the natural appearance of the tooth, and thus are far more aesthetically pleasing than a silver amalgam filling. We do live in an appearance conscious world, and if you want a bright beautiful smile, having silver filled cavities is not the answer. You can make your teeth look perfect, as though you have never had a cavity in your life by using a filling that does not stand out, rather matches your tooth color. So, for cosmetic, vanity, and aesthetic purposes, white composite fillings are the way to go.

2. Less tooth structure is removed: When you get a filling, a cavity is removed, and scraped away and cleaned, and the filling is put in its place. However, if you have a very minor, or surface cavity, with a silver amalgam filling, you sometimes have to remove extra healthy tooth in order to create a big enough surface for the seal and filling to bond to. With white composite fillings the hole that is filled can be smaller, and less tooth structure must be removed. This is a very good thing. It means your teeth will be stronger, and more natural.

3. Stronger teeth: while with silver amalgam fillings the filling material is stronger, the tooth itself becomes weaker and more prone to fracture. White composites on the other hand don't make your teeth weak. This in turn saves you money. Although upfront, white composite fillings cost more, because they bond to the tooth, they restore most of the original strength of the tooth, and thus your tooth is less likely to have future problems, which means less money down the road.

4. Not as much pain: sometimes after you get a cavity filled your tooth is going to be sensitive and may even have dull pain and aching. Teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with silver amalgam fillings. So, if you are super sensitive to pain, or want a faster recovery, find a dentist that can properly do white composite fillings.

5. No mercury: White composite fillings are mercury-free! They are slightly softer than silver fillings, but they are also not toxic to you, look better, and are mercury-free. For this reason alone many people have opted to have their old silver fillings replaced with white composite fillings.

These are 5 great reasons to choose white composite fillings, but this does not mean white composite fillings are for everyone. If you choose to get white composite fillings make sure that you have a dentist skilled in placing them as they take extra care, and a special technique.

Oh no!  A disaster has occurred!  Your filling has just fallen right out of your mouth!  What should you do?

Over the years, most of us have spent a significant amount of money on good dental hygiene.  We go to the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and a check-up; get X-rays every year and fillings when we need it.  After all, your teeth are hard to replace so you might as well take good care of them while they're still around.  But what do you do when a filling falls out? 

But why did your filling fall out in the first place?

Sometimes fillings fall out for no apparent reason.  Sometimes they fall out due to something we did to our filling (we chewed on something a little too sticky or chomped down on something a little too hard).  When a filling is lost, it is usually because there is decay (or another cavity) around the filling.  If this is the case, your dentist will need to remove the decay and then choose the best method to restore the tooth.  Sometimes a filling falls out without there being more decay around the tooth.  In this case, the dentist will try to discern why the filling fell out, solve the problem (if s/he can decide what the problem was) and place a new filling in the tooth.  Fillings can also fall out if the tooth was not prepared properly when the filling was placed, or if the cavity was contaminated with saliva when the filling was placed (this disrupts the bonding process, allowing the filling to fall out).

Obviously if your filling just fell out, you're going to want to call your dentist as soon as possible to schedule an emergency appointment.  But in the meantime, there are a few things you can do to protect your tooth. 

First of all, you should be sure to brush your tooth very gently.  You do not want to cause any irritation to an already stressed tooth.  Be sure to brush it very regularly so that it does not get any food stuck in it.  If your filling is like that of many people, there's a good chance that where the filling once was is now a very deep crevice.  To combat this crevice that no toothbrush could ever hope to reach, you may want to the following: purchase a needle-less syringe to flush out where the filling used to be with fluoride-containing Listerine.  This will also prevent you from getting anything stuck in your tooth while it's exposed.  You can also go to any drug store and purchase over-the-counter "temporary filling."  This is a goopy substance that you can apply over the area of the lost filling, preventing food from becoming stuck in it. 

Most importantly: try to avoid eating on the tooth with the lost filling.  This is the best way to prevent food from getting stuck in your tooth.  If your filling was located on a tooth that simply cannot be avoided when eating, try to avoid eating sticky or chewy food like caramel, gummies or hard candies.  Once your filling has been replaced you may return to your normal eating habits.

If you noticed in time, try to keep the lost filling to show your dentist.  It may help him/her to discover why the filling fell out in the first place.

As mentioned above, it is very important that you see a dentist as soon as possible.  If you delay getting your filling replaced, the decay in your tooth can become even worse, and could eventually collapse the tooth to the gum, forcing the dentist to dig out your tooth.