What advice do you have for people with amalgam fillings, many of whom have had them for years? Should they get them replaced? If so, with what?

Although I don’t place many amalgam fillings in my patients mouths, I agree with the American Dental Association’s position that “dental amalgam is a safe and effective treatment option for the general population” It is my belief that amalgams pose no real health risk to my patients since they only release minute quantities of mercury. When they need to be replaced I tend to use either composite restorations for small to medium sized fillings or recommend crowns for teeth missing a larger percentage of tooth structure.