Medically reviewed by Brian T. Luong, DMD Key Takeaways Silver amalgam fillings can last about 15 years on average. The FDA ...

Getting a filling is a common dental procedure that is used to treat cavities and protect teeth damaged by tooth decay. There are several types of filling material currently available to repair ...

Dating back at least to the 1980s, experts have debated the safety of metal “amalgam” cavity fillings, which contain a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel and—most alarmingly—mercury. The ...

Regenerative dental fillings that allow teeth to heal themselves have been developed by researchers, potentially eliminating the need for root canals. The treatment, developed by scientists from the ...

Researchers find that people who drink alcohol or men who smoke are more likely to suffer a failed dental filling. The research team also found a genetic difference in some patients associated with ...

(CNN) -- The US Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday that silver dental fillings, known as dental amalgam, may cause health problems for some high-risk groups. The updated FDA guidance said ...

As if going to the dentist weren't bad enough, a recent YouTube hit titled "Smoking Teeth = Poison Gas" shows an amalgam (a.k.a. silver or metal) filling emitting mercury vapor. It's the latest — and ...

A compound used to make car bumpers strong and protect wood decks could prevent return visits to the dentist's office. A team of researchers has created a filling material that's two times more ...

More and more new technology is being used in the dentist’s office. The procedures can make it easier on the patient and the dentist. And now, there’s a way to get a cavity filled without needles and ...

If you’re not a fan of the dentist, imagine what it was like 13,000 years ago. Receive emails about upcoming NOVA programs and related content, as well as featured reporting about current events ...