The Materials a Dentist in 73134 Uses for All Dental Fillings

Do you still have metal fillings from when you were a kid but never had them replaced? Perhaps your silver filling is long overdue for replacement? Regardless of your situation, silver (amalgam) fillings are the old method of providing restorations, according to a dentist in 73134. Patients who want a more aesthetic solution to damaged teeth, without sacrificing the restoration’s effectiveness at protecting their oral health should consider tooth-colored fillings.

Keep reading to learn the benefits and materials used to restore your smile!

The Problem with Amalgam in Dentistry

Amalgam fillings don’t only contain metals like tin and copper to restore your teeth. They also make use of mercury, which is designed to make the alloys used more pliable. As a result, this helps the filling form inside the cavity it’s trying to fill. It also hardens quickly and allows people to chew and bite with confidence.

In recent years, more and more dentists are going completely mercury-free, especially since they know that small amounts of mercury vapor can be released from amalgam fillings, particularly as they age. To remove any possibility of health complications caused by mercury as well as offer people a more effective solution to damaged teeth, dentists are making use of a completely different material.

What Materials Do Tooth-Colored Fillings Use?

The material used in tooth-colored fillings is composite resin. Composite resin is made from a mixture of smooth glass and plastic particles, making it completely metal-free. Composite resin is also used regularly in dental bonding, which can fill cosmetic chips or cracks in your smile. Since composite resin is biocompatible, you won’t have to fear if your body will reject it or not once it’s placed.

Of course, dentists are also going metal-free for other dental restorations. For example, crowns can be made with gold or porcelain, which are also biocompatible and capable of offering solid protection when chewing. The type you choose can depend on the aesthetics you want, as well as the size of the restoration needed.

What are the Benefits?

Composite resin fillings alone have many benefits compared to amalgam fillings. Not only is less healthy tooth structure removed for placement compared to amalgam, but the materials used make it easy for your dentist to create a color that blends in with your existing tooth. This will make your fillings look nearly identical with your natural smile.

Furthermore, tooth-colored fillings cause less sensitivity to heat and cold because they are less affected by the expansion and contraction these external factors cause. They’re also very easy to place and harden, thanks to the use of a curing light.

For these reasons, your dentist recommends composite resin fillings and non-metal restorations over amalgam any day of the week. Schedule an appointment today to get your smile restored!

About the Author

Dr. Patrick Crowley is an expert when it comes to restoring teeth, whether it be for health or cosmetic reasons. Thanks to his AEGD residency at the Oklahoma University School of Dentistry, he’s able to create restorations for implants, tackle complex restorative cases, and improve the overall appearance of your smile. To learn more about his practice’s treatments, contact him through his website.