Choosing your best dental fillings with help from your Longview dentist

In the event that a tooth or teeth require repair, dental fillings are the first form of treatment considered. Throughout the course of dental history, filling materials have undergone significant transformation. Where there was once a time when cavities were repaired with gold or amalgam fillings, today we have more choices in material, leading to extensive benefits. In our dental practice, we place mercury-free fillings to provide most benefit to our patients.

Comparing amalgam to composite fillings

Amalgam fillings have been used for well over half a century. Because they are still used in many dental practices today, many people assume they are a safe, affordable restoration for people of all ages. Amalgam fillings contain a mixture of metals, including silver, zinc, and other powdered materials. These substances are bound together with mercury, a dental material that has been scrutinized for years. Because of the health concerns surrounding mercury, we choose not to include this type of filling in our menu of services. But there are other reasons to choose amalgam alternatives.

Amalgam fillings, although thought to be some of the most durable, actually have some competition from composite and porcelain dental fillings, both offered in our dental office. Over the years, it has been discovered that amalgam is a material that, aside from concerns over mercury, may not be as suitable as once thought for dental restorations.

The metals contained in amalgam fillings expand and contract significantly with heat and cold. Through years of wear and tear, and exposure to the various temperature changes in the mouth, these fillings can pose the risk of tooth fracture. Many adults who have had amalgam fillings since childhood find themselves facing further repair, such as dental crowns, when teeth have been fractured by expanding dental fillings.

Composite dental fillings are made with polymers, which form a hard plastic. This dental material has become increasingly popular for two reasons. First, there is no metal, and no mercury, in composite resin fillings. This eliminates the risks associated with amalgam fillings, and their inclusion of mercury, and also decreases the chances of tooth fractures, as there is less expansion and contraction occurring. Composite fillings are also more attractive, made from material shaded to match surrounding teeth.

When facing dental restorations, there are several considerations to be made. Repairing damaged teeth is an investment into your oral health, as well as your appearance. We are committed to helping our patients maintain their healthiest, most attractive smiles with mercury-free fillings.

Contact our office today for your dental check-up. Back to Cosmetic Dentistry Home Page