If you’ve had dental fillings placed in the past, you’re probably aware of the metal sheen they give when light reflects off of them. Metal fillings have been the standard in dentistry for a long time, largely because of their effectiveness at protecting teeth, availability of materials and long-term durability. However, they aren’t without their flaws.
Instead of settling for silver (amalgam) fillings, you can get a restoration that is more effective, requires very little alterations to your existing tooth and does not sacrifice quality for aesthetics.
Why Fillings are Sometimes Necessary
If you’ve been putting off your treatment for dental fillings, you don’t want to do it any longer. When teeth are damaged, either from decay or injury, it exposes the inner areas of the tooth to oral bacteria. This can easily lead to an infection inside the pulp and cause major complications later.
Another reason you don’t want to skip treatment is because the condition of your tooth will only continue to worsen over time. If you don’t get a dental filling now, you’ll only end up needing a more extensive and expensive treatment at a later date, such as crown placement, root canal therapy or even an extraction. Plus, the longer you wait to have a filling placed, the more likely you’ll experience tooth pain and severe sensitivity.
The Negative Consequences of Silver Fillings
As mentioned, silver fillings have been useful in dentistry for many years, but we now know that the negative factors outweigh the positive ones. Silver fillings are created based on an impression mold taken of the damaged tooth. This model is then used to fabricate a filling that fits inside your tooth. In most cases, enamel needs to be buffed down for the filling to fit, resulting in a loss of tooth structure.
Additionally, silver fillings tend to change shape when exposed to cool and hot temperatures over the years. This regular expansion and contraction causes the filling to act as a wedge inside the tooth, only pushing the remaining structure further apart over time.
Finally, silver fillings are not always ideal for some patients, especially if they have an allergy to metal dental materials. They may also not be ideal if they don’t have a lot of remaining tooth structure left.
How Composite Resin Can Benefit You
This is where composite resin material comes in. Instead of being made up of several metals like mercury, silver, tin and copper, composite resin is a makeup of glass and plastic. Because of this composition, the fillings can be made to blend in with your existing tooth and match your smile more effectively. It’s also molded inside the damaged portion of your tooth, which allows for more natural tooth structure to be saved. Even though composite resin doesn’t use metal, it still carries the same durable qualities that silver fillings have.
Do you have silver fillings to replace? Need your first filling ever made? Schedule an appointment today to start your treatment and protect your teeth!
About the Author
Dr. Joanne Bancroft does not use silver fillings in her practice because of the long-term consequences they can cause. Instead, she uses tooth-colored fillings which carry many of the same benefits of silver fillings but without the drawbacks. To learn more about this restorative treatment or learn if your silver fillings need replacement, you can contact her through her website.