Dentists have been using silver fillings for more than a century. It has been long debated whether the fillings are safe, and apparently the debate goes on.
Two new studies show silver fillings do not harm children. When compared to tooth-colored composite fillings, researchers found kids with the silver were exposed to more mercury, but the levels were too low to affect them.
Doctor Timoth Derouen studied the two groups of children for seven years. He said, "We saw no differences over time in these two. They seemed to develop and do identically on the neurobehavioral tests that were conducted."
Some dentists dispute the findings and argue silver fillings can cause autism and neurological damage. But most say as long as there is nothing that proves they are unsafe, they will keep on filling with silver.
Silver fillings cost $40 to $50 less than composite fillings.
