(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 the filling material could lead to health issues for those with a hypersensitivity to mercury. Dental amalgam fillings are a mixture of silver, tin, copper and mercury. The FDA and American Dental Association have said for years the material is safe, but advocates have called for a filling material that doesn't contain mercury since the 1970s. Dental amalgam is widely used because it is strong, durable and less expensive than other filling materials, but over time it can release small amounts of mercury vapor.

Source: CNN September 25, 2020 01:07 UTC