Why do you have black spots in the mouth after getting dental fillings? Amalgam tattoo is defined as the amalgam pigmentation of the oral mucosa and it appears as blue, grey, or black spots. In general, such strange colored lesions in the mouth occurs with a variety of reasons that mimic amalgam tattoos. However, the amalgam pigmentations differ from them as they are not elevated and do not have any texture. Amalgam fillings are made up of metals including mercury, copper, silver, and tin. When a tiny particle of those silver fillings traps underneath the oral tissues, a dark-colored lesion occurs. People who had amalgam fillings or treated their tooth root with apicoectomy surgery will develop amalgam tattoos.
How do amalgam tattoos form? The amalgam pigmentation has 3 possible causes as follows: Accidental deposit during placement - While placing an amalgam filling, a small particle of the filling may peel and stuck over the gums near the treated tooth. Accidental deposit during polishing - Once the filling is placed to restore a tooth, dentists have to polish it to keep the bites even. At that time, a tiny particle of the silver filling may peel off from the tooth and trap in the soft tissues of your mouth. Accidental deposit during removal - Dental doctors use high-speed turbine dental drills to remove silver fillings. The removed filling materials fly around the mouth while drilling and seep into the oral tissues.