The hole is in the tooth – the trouble big. In the dental practice, the question arises as to which material is best for the filling. Stiftung Warentest has examined how safe amalgam and co. are.
When toothache plagues, the cause is often a cavity in the tooth. There is only one thing that can help: a tooth filling. Stiftung Warentest has examined which materials are best, whether they pose any health risks and how durable they are.
Anyone who comes to the dental practice with a hole can often choose which filling it should be. The dentist usually recommends a material – that can be expensive. Only the amalgam filling is free of charge for people with statutory health insurance. With the help of experts, the product testers examined not only the classic, but also the plastic mixtures of composite and compomer, ceramics, and gold and metal alloys.
No danger from amalgam
The good news: all of these materials are safe. Many people have concerns about amalgam fillings because the alloy consists of tin, silver, copper, zinc and mercury. The heavy metal mercury can damage nerves and the kidneys. Although researchers have been able to prove that the mercury levels in urine or blood increase with the number of amalgam fillings, the levels are not harmful to health, according to the Stiftung Warentest report. There is no scientific evidence that mercury in dental fillings is harmful to health.
The material is no longer recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as children and adolescents under the age of 15. The reason: A precautionary measure to avoid taking any risks in adolescents whose brains are still developing. It is also better for people with severe kidney disease to use other materials. Composite, compomer, ceramics as well as gold and metal alloys do not pose any health risks, in rare cases they can trigger allergic reactions.
Find suitable material
The same material is not suitable for every hole or broken area. Because amalgam has a silvery sheen and is very conspicuous, it is not suitable for repairing incisors or canines. In many cases, a plastic filling with composite could be a good solution, judges Stiftung Warentest. The material can be matched to the color of the teeth, has a long service life and is comparatively inexpensive. The classic amalgam as a filling lasts an average of 29 years, composite comes to an average of 25 years. According to the product tester, ceramic or gold can be a solution for major tooth damage, but those with statutory health insurance can expect additional payments of several hundred euros.
Anyone who is toying with the idea of having existing fillings replaced should think twice about it. If an old filling is drilled out, some of the remaining tooth is always lost and the new filling is larger. However, it is important that the teeth are well cared for in order to avoid tooth decay on the edges. Existing fillings should also be checked regularly by the dentist.
Additional insurance just for fillings is not worthwhile
Even if patients have to dig deep into their pockets for some fillings, according to Stiftung Warentest, private supplementary dental insurance for inlays and fillings alone is not worth it. The test winner for supplementary dental insurance with benefits for fillings is Hallesche with the “dentZE 100+, dentZB 100” tariffs.
You can find the detailed test on dental fillings and supplementary dental insurance at or in the magazine “Test” (issue 5/22).
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Source: Stern
