How the Body Responds to Dental Metals

Your immune system operates like a security force. If it senses intruders, such as viruses, it deploys sentinels in the form of white blood cells to apprehend or subdue it. The difference between white blood cells and military police, however, is that white blood cells show no quarter.

Aside from viruses and bacteria, the immune system also has to deal with other substances that should not be in the body. Take the mercury found in silver dental fillings or amalgam, for example. In people with compromised immune systems, mercury reacts faster than body can reject it. Various studies have also shown a correlation (not necessarily a causative link) between mercury emissions from amalgams and conditions like cancer, respiratory diseases, neurological issues, and even mental health deterioration.

However, not all foreign substances are harmful. Titanium alloy in dental implants, for instance, integrate with natural bone tissue like best buddies. The immune system doesn't see the titanium as a threat and lets it be. Titanium is corrosion-resistant and does not release a lot of trace metals into the bloodstream, which would otherwise trigger the immune response.

For the record, the human body is home to dozens of trace metals that your immune system welcomes as a necessary resource for growth and development. Consequently, it's not unusual for the body to not react to certain metals. Yet for your peace of mind, you might want to choose a holistic dentist in Philadelphia who uses only safe dental restorative materials.