AMALGAM FILLINGS
Amalgam/Metal vs White Fillings
If you’ve got older silver-coloured fillings, or you’re wondering why fillings look so different these days, you’re not alone. Here’s a calm, clear look at metal versus white fillings — and why dentistry has largely moved on from one to the other.
Not so long ago, a filling almost always meant a small patch of silver-grey metal in your tooth. These are known as amalgam fillings, and for a good century they were simply how cavities were repaired. But dentistry, like everything else, keeps evolving — and today the vast majority of practices, Avenue included, use tooth-coloured fillings instead. If you’re curious about the difference, or you’re looking at an old metal filling in the mirror wondering whether it matters, let’s talk it through.
What actually is an amalgam (metal) filling?
Amalgam is a blend of metals — traditionally silver, tin and copper, held together with mercury. It was popular for a long time because it’s hard-wearing and was relatively easy to place. For decades it did its job perfectly well, which is why so many people still have amalgam fillings from years gone by.
These days, though, amalgam is very much a technique of the past. It’s an older approach that modern dentistry has moved beyond, to the point where most practices no longer keep it on hand at all. In its place is something that does the job better on almost every front.
Why dentistry moved to white fillings
The shift to tooth-coloured composite fillings comes down to a handful of genuine, practical advantages:
They look natural
Composite fillings are matched to the shade of your tooth, so they blend in rather than standing out. No more grey-black patches — just a repair that quietly disappears into your smile.
They preserve more of your tooth
Composite bonds directly to the tooth, so your dentist can keep the preparation conservative — removing only what’s necessary and holding onto more of your healthy, natural tooth structure.
They’re part of a global shift
Around the world, amalgam use is being wound back — largely for environmental reasons — so composite has become the modern standard. More on that just below.
The global phase-down: what’s the Minamata Convention?
You might have heard that amalgam is being “phased down” — and there’s a genuine international agreement behind that. It’s called the Minamata Convention, a global treaty named after a city in Japan and aimed at reducing mercury use across the world. Because amalgam contains mercury, the treaty specifically encourages dentistry to move away from it over time.
It’s worth being clear about what this is and isn’t. The phase-down is largely an environmental measure — about reducing mercury in the wider world — rather than a verdict on the fillings already in people’s mouths. It’s simply one more reason the whole profession has shifted toward tooth-coloured alternatives.
I already have amalgam fillings — do I need to replace them?
This is the question that brings most people to a page like this, so let’s answer it plainly and reassuringly: no, you don’t need to rush out and replace them right away. What is worth doing is having older fillings checked. Like anything that’s been in place for years, amalgam fillings can eventually crack, wear or start to leak around the edges — and that’s when replacement becomes worthwhile, not because of the metal itself but because the filling is no longer sealing the tooth properly. In some cases, a tooth with a large old filling may have underlying cracks that are better supported with a crown. Your dentist can assess this and talk you through whether anything needs doing at all.
If a filling does need replacing
When an amalgam filling genuinely needs to come out — because it’s cracked, worn or leaking — we replace it with a tooth-coloured composite, restoring both the function and the natural look of the tooth. During removal, we use a rubber dam (a thin protective barrier that isolates the tooth), which is a standard safe-practice approach that keeps the area clean and controlled throughout the procedure.
As with any dental treatment, what’s right for your particular tooth is something your dentist will assess and discuss with you first, so you understand the options before anything goes ahead.
Come in for a proper check-up
If you’d like your existing fillings looked over, or you simply want a thorough once-over, our new patient examination is a full hour — an unhurried, detailed assessment that includes OPG and bitewing X-rays, so nothing gets missed. It’s no-out-of-pocket for private health fund holders, or $95 if you don’t have cover. We’ll walk you through exactly what we find and what your options are, if any are needed at all.
The information in this blog is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for personalised advice. Every patient is different, and any treatment carries its own considerations and risks. Individual results vary. Please speak with your dentist or an appropriately qualified health practitioner about your individual health needs before making any decisions. Read more about treatment risks here: https://www.avenuedental.com.au/treatment-risks
