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Tooth Fillings

At some point or other in our lives, most of us wind up with a cavity. In most cases, a cavity calls for your dentist to remove the decay and to fill that area. There have been a number of advances in the field over the past few years. If you're one of the lucky ones and haven't had a cavity for a while, you should read up on what treatment options are available in the event you should ever need to use one.

What are Composite Resin Fillings?

Most of us have had amalgam fillings (silver) or gold filling restorations. Some amalgam fillings have been called mercury fillings, as many of them contained mercury. Metal fillings were effective, but were very noticeable and tended to blacken in color over time.

Composite Resin Dental Fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal fillings. Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are known as Composite Resin Dental Fillings and are made of a plastic dental resin. Composite Resin Dental Fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very natural looking smile. Most dental insurance plans cover their use

Who is a candidate for Composite Resin Fillings?

If you have a cavity in a tooth, broken fillings, mercury fillings, or amalgam fillings, this type of dental filling is well worth discussing with your dentist. Mercury fillings or amalgam fillings can easily be removed and replaced with far more attractive fillings. Composite Resin Fillings will also strengthen your tooth well beyond the level of amalgam fillings.

Composite Resins may also be used to enhance the appearance of any tooth, as well as strengthen and improve the natural tooth structure.

What are amalgam fillings and are there any health risks?

Amalgam fillings are a mixture of liquid mercury and small pieces of silver as well as other metals such as copper, tin, and zinc. Because many amalgam fillings contain mercury, there have been many concerns about their safety. The absorption of elemental mercury is known to be a contributing factor in several diseases, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, dementia and arthritis. (I would omit the following sentence, but if Dan feels it necessary in order to “CYA”, then let it be.) (The FDA investigations have not definitively proven that the minute amount of mercury vapors released from silver fillings is a health hazard, though.) There are currently no health-associated concerns with regard to Composite Resin Fillings.   

What are the Pros and Cons of Composite Resin Fillings?

Advantages: Composite Resin Fillings support remaining tooth structure, which will help to prevent any breakage or damage to your tooth. These fillings are often used to improve the appearance of misshapen, chipped or discolored teeth. They are color-blended to match your natural teeth and will always generate a more attractive smile.

Composite Resin Fillings last twelve years or more and the procedure usually takes just one visit to your dentist. There is very little sensitivity to hot or cold with Composite Resin Fillings, unlike what is so often experienced with amalgam fillings. Amalgam tooth fillings also require far more drilling than the procedures involved with Composite Resin Fillings.

Disadvantages: Composite resin fillings require more time to apply than amalgam fillings. This results in a slightly higher cost for the procedure over that for amalgam fillings.

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Dental Bridges   Dental Crowns   Gum Disease Treatments   Root Canals
Tooth Bonding   Tooth Fillings   Teeth Whitening