Inexpensive, durable, but toxic: dental fillings made from amalgam are controversial – and should be banned in the EU by 2030. For many it is too late. About the question of how harmful the material really is – and about alternatives.
The pros and cons of dental fillings made of amalgam were already debated in the 19th century, when the material was still mixed from mercury and molten silver coins. Today the recipes are more sophisticated, but the arguments have hardly changed. Some people praise amalgam as being inexpensive, easy to process and durable. The others warn of dangers to health and the environment. After all, the filling material contains around 50 percent toxic mercury, which can damage the brain and kidneys, among other things. During these months the dispute has reignited.