Consequences of Amalgam Restorations on Soft Tissues of the Oral Cavity

Topic Consequences of amalgam restoration on soft tissue of the oral cavity. Aim To do a review on the effect of amalgam restorations on the oral cavity. Objective and background Amalgam is the mixture of alloy particles along with mercury. It has been one of the best restorative materials used in dentistry for the past 150 years. It is also sometimes called Silver Amalgam. The metals present in it would include silver, mercury, tin and copper. Small amounts of zinc, indium or palladium also may be used. Due to the high metal content, especially mercury, concerns have been raised. In rare cases, patients develop allergic conditions due to their amalgam fillings, lesions can be developed due to the mercury content. The leakage of mercury from the restorations can cause conditions such as pigmentation of the oral tissues (amalgam tattoo), chronic gingivitis, pre cancerous lesions, toxicity, bleeding gums, sinusitis etc. This review is done in order to understand the adverse effects of amalgam restorations and to know the various ways in which it can be prevented. Reason This review is done in order to understand the wholesome effect of amalgam restorations on the oral cavity. It is important for dentists to be aware of all these conditions in order to safe guard the health of patients. The patents will also be more aware of signs and symptoms and can consult the dentist to prevent worse conditions.