The practice of using silver teeth, also known as dental amalgam, has been around for centuries. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It is used to fill cavities and repair damaged teeth. Amalgam fillings are strong and durable, and they can last for many years.
There are several reasons why people have silver teeth. In the past, amalgam was the most common type of dental filling material because it was affordable and easy to use. However, amalgam fillings have fallen out of favor in recent years due to concerns about the mercury content. Mercury is a toxic metal, and there is some evidence that it can cause health problems if it is ingested or inhaled. For this reason, many dentists now prefer to use other types of filling materials, such as composite resin or glass ionomer cement.