Does mercury escape from the filling? Yes! As mercury amalgam fillings age in teeth, they break down. From the very second they are placed in the tooth until the last speck is removed, mercury, as vapor, is released.

How much mercury comes off a filling? The amount of mercury released from a filling depends on the newness of the amalgam, what other metals are present in the mouth, what oral habits are there (such as smoking, chewing, teeth clenching and grinding) and the types and temperatures of foods ingested. The warmer amalgams get, from the friction of chewing or the temperature of hot foods or smoking, the more mercury "boils" off the surface.

How does mercury get into the body? Mercury easily enters the body through the lungs. It is then rapidly transported by the bloodstream to other parts of the body. The major target organs for mercury vapor are the central nervous system and the kidneys.