Amalgam tattoo is a grey, blue or black area of discoloration on the mucous membranes of the mouth, typically on the gums of the lower jaw. It is a healthcare caused lesion, due to entry of dental amalgam into the soft tissues. It is common, painless, and benign, but it can be mistaken for melanoma.

Amalgam tattoo usually occurs on the mandibular gingiva, often in an area in which an apicoectomy (“root-end filling”) with amalgam was carried out. After the gingiva, the alveolar mucosa and the buccal mucosa are the next most common sites, although any mucosal site in the mouth is possible.It is painless, and appears as a blue-black or grey discolored macule on the surface of the mucosa.The borders of the tattoo are variable, and may be well defined, irregular or diffuse.

It is painless, and appears as a blue-black or grey discolored macule on the surface of the mucosa.The borders of the tattoo are variable, and may be well defined, irregular or diffuse.

Causes:

Amalgam tattoo is caused by implantation of amalgam into the tissues.It may occur in several ways:

• During placement of an amalgam filling.
• Shortly after placement of an amalgam filling.
• The pressure from high speed turbine dental drills can be enough to force amalgam particles into soft tissue.
• When an amalgam filling is placed in the same appointment as a tooth extracted.

Treatment:

No treatment is required since the lesion is entirely benign.