For quite some time, dental fillings have been the answer for teeth with severe decay and cavities. But this solution isn’t one-size-fits-all by any means; fillings come in all shapes, sizes, and materials! Continue reading to learn more about some of the potential issues you may face with an older metal filling, and how replacing it with a new, tooth-colored filling will benefit your smile’s health and appearance.
The Problem with Metal Fillings
Many dental fillings used to address cavities are made from a material called amalgam, which is a combination of different metal alloys, including silver, copper, tin, zinc, mercury, gold, and others. Research shows that dental amalgam fillings may release small amounts of mercury in the form of vapor—and while studies on people with dental amalgam fillings do not show conclusive evidence that amalgam causes harmful effects, many patients would rather not have any metal whatsoever inside their mouths.
Other high-risk patients, including women who are pregnant or those with mercury allergies, are also more susceptible to the effects of potential mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings. It’s also common for patients to have concerns about the highly unnatural appearance of these metal amalgam crowns; when your smile is concerned, aesthetics are quite important!
The Rise of Metal-Free Fillings
The use of dental amalgam fillings has declined throughout the years, with materials such as resin-based composites and glass ionomers being more wisely used. The durability of these alternative materials has improved since they were first developed, and of course, it goes without saying that they can be designed to look exactly like your natural teeth.
There are some situations when metal fillings may be better, such as if a back tooth needs a filling and requires something durable due to increased biting pressure. That said, it’s hard to deny the many advantages that come with metal-free alternatives. Not only do they look just like real teeth, but they typically require less removal of healthy tooth structure to be placed. They also lack the temperature sensitivity that often affects metal materials.
No matter what type of dental filling you have, it’s important to maintain excellent oral hygiene every day to ensure that tooth decay doesn’t become a threat again in the future—this includes daily brushing and flossing as well as routine preventive dental checkups. However, if you think it’s time to move on from your metal crown, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more exciting option than one that’s metal-free and styled after your original pearly whites!
About the Practice
Our team here at Hill Avenue Dental has served the needs of patients and families in Superior and the surrounding community for several years. Under the leadership of Dr. Douglas Clark III, a proud graduate from the Marquette University School of Dentistry and member of the prestigious Academy of General Dentistry, we offer a wide range of services under one roof, including tooth-colored fillings. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up a visit, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (715) 392-5161.