plastic or silver filling?

[naturalmama]

I have my first cavity at 35 years old and I have a choice of plastic or silver filling- which is better? THanks!

[Ruthla]

Plastic is much better.

Silver is an amalgram (mixture) that contains mercury.

[naturalmama]

thanks so much! - I have been hearing the word amalgram, but did not know what it was

[Shiloh]

gold is also an option (bit flashy but it is the 'best' material for fillings)

never mercury never mercury.
the amount of mercury released from a filling in a day of eating can equal a vaccination or can of tuna..forget my source but its not safe in any amount

[naturalmama]

Is there a huge price increase if you go to the gold? I would be willing to pay some extra seeing that it is my health! I will have to call my dentist.

[Blu Razzberri]

I've never heard of a plastic fillings; but I don't know if they're safe either. Isn't plastic bad for you? I swear I heard about a study that determined that babies shouldn't put plastic toys in their mouth.

Google this:

define: amalgam

...just like that. And it will tell you all about it. Composite fillings, I thought, were made of porcelaine or something. I guess I never put too much thought into it!

[alegna]

Composite is plastic. Porcelain is yet another option.

-Angela

[Shiloh]

Is there a huge price increase if you go to the gold? I would be willing to pay some extra seeing that it is my health! I will have to call my dentist.

I don't think its huge maybe an extra 100-200 but they do wear so much better and are 'softer' than composite, plastic, glass the white type

[SleeplessMommy]

It might be hard to find a dentist that does gold.

If you have $$$, you can get a porcelain filling (held in by cement or polymer)

Next choice is a polymer filling

And at the way bottom of the list is amalgam - 50% mercury by weight. And very bad for the environment.