Some people like the old tried-and-true methods, while others live on the cutting edge. Some are still rocking analog, whereas their counterparts have gone fully digital. Who’s to say what’s best?
In the same vein, you’ve discovered a cavity and are trying to decide between old-fashioned metal and more modern tooth-colored fillings. Read on to learn more about why the new school method has the advantage.
Tooth-Colored Fillings are More Aesthetically Pleasing
Amalgam fillings get their name from the fact that they are a mixture of metals, including silver, copper, mercury, and zinc. With all those dark gray metals in your mouth, it’s hard not to notice them when you crack a smile.
On the other hand, tooth-colored fillings are made using a composite resin, a mixture of plastic and tiny glass particles. As their name implies, they are shaded to match the tooth they’re filling and the surrounding enamel as well, making it virtually impossible to notice any difference in your smile.
Composite Bonds to Enamel Better than Amalgam
There are a couple of reasons this is advantageous:
- A dentist can preserve more of the tooth structure when filling a cavity, making for a higher quality repair.
- Fillings are less likely to pop loose the more snugly they are fitted to the enamel.
Rest Assured There Are No Harmful Fillings
In recent years, people have become not-so-quick to put something like mercury in their mouths because of its known toxicity, even though most research shows that dental mercury is not poisonous. For those who are averse to something like mercury, composite resin carries no such concerns as it is composed of plastic and tiny glass particles.
Amalgam Fillings and Metal Allergies
Some patients may discover too late that they have an allergy to one of the metals found in amalgam fillings like mercury, silver, copper, or zinc. This can lead to unpleasant reactions like oral lesions, redness and itching inside your mouth, or swelling of the affected areas.
On the other hand, tooth-colored fillings contain no materials that induce allergies. They consist of a mixture of plastic resin and powered glass filler and are not known to cause allergic reactions.
You should visit your dentist as soon as possible if you suspect an allergy to a metal filling.
Thanks to their aesthetic consistency with other teeth, durability, and use of conducive materials, tooth-colored fillings have become the go-to cavity repair option.
About the Author
Whether it’s cavity repair that you need or something else like restorative or cosmetic dentistry, Dr. George Hoop at Total Dental Solutions for Adults is ready to serve you. With more than 30 years of experience in dentistry, Dr. Hoop continues to be a student of his craft, attending training at prestigious educational bodies such as the Pikos Institute, the Misch International Implant Institute, and the Dawson Academy. If you think you need a filling, visit Total Dental Solutions online or call their Fort Myers office at (239) 356-8683 or their North Naples office at (239) 939-7299 to schedule an appointment.