All of us have had the privilege of having at least one cavity in our lifetime. Even the ones that proudly claim “I’ve never had a cavity in my life”. I guess there’s always a first time 🙂
The demand for tooth-coloured fillings is high. In my day-to-day practice, I have a large number of patients who will come in with a request to change their old silver fillings for nicer looking tooth-colored or cosmetic fillings. Getting a filling that matches the color of your teeth is important for some people, especially if they are insecure about their filling and don’t want it to be noticed. Booking an appointment with a Dentist in Modesto, or one closer to you, might be a good idea so you can discuss getting tooth colored dental fillings if you want to.
To help you better understand, here’s a quick run-down comparing the good old tried and tested silver fillings to the newer, nicer-looking tooth-colored ones.
Are silver fillings bad?
Silver fillings have stood the test of time and been around for years. Even today, I see a well-done silver filling about 25 years’ old and going strong.
So what changed?
Our understanding about the tooth and treatment methods have changed
- Though there has been enough discussion and debating about mercury toxicity there is no substantial evidence to prove that mercury actually causes toxicity .
- Silver is a metal and temperature changes in the mouth can cause the metal to make the tooth sensitive
- Large silver fillings may make your natural tooth more prone to fracture and damage
- A greater amount of the natural tooth structure must be removed in order to prepare the tooth for the silver filling material
- The silver amalgam material is noticeable and not aesthetically appealing
Are silver fillings justified?
There are still a large number of dental practices that do only silver fillings.
The only reason justifying silver fillings would be to bring down the cost of dental treatment since these are less expensive as they don’t need expensive tools or techniques and they probably are quicker.
Are tooth-coloured fillings more superior?
Like I mentioned earlier, the amalgam fillings have stood the test of time and done really well for themselves .
But advanced techniques and materials make silver fillings look like a thing from the past.
Unlike silver fillings which need plenty of tooth preparation the tooth-coloured fillings need only small bits of infected tooth to be removed and replaced with the filling.
Most patients now opt to get white composite fillings instead of silver amalgam fillings due to their many benefits, including:
- No health risks associated with the use of composite fillings
- The biggest advantage being minimal amount of damage to the natural tooth
- Less post-treatment discomfort and sensitivity when composite materials are used instead of silver materials
- The tooth-coloured material can be matched to blend in with surrounding teeth and look completely natural.
Although most patients prefer composite fillings, there are some disadvantages that they should be aware of:
- Tooth-coloured fillings are more expensive than silver fillings
- The use of composite materials requires more skill on the part of the dentist; this results in higher prices and highlights the importance of choosing a skilled and trained dentist to perform the procedure
What’s different about the tooth-coloured filling?
- The tooth-coloured filling is bonded to the natural tooth structure to create a stronger, more esthetic and natural-looking filling
- Tooth-coloured fillings are synthetic resins very similar to the natural tooth as against amalgam which is a metal can cause long term damage to the natural tooth
In conclusion, your smile is in good hands with composite fillings, so if you’re thinking of changing your old silver fillings for the newer composite fillings, or you think you’re needing a filling and you want to opt for composites, you’ll want to get in touch with your local dentist that offer the service, a clinic such as Dentist Newmarket for example. There are some great materials that give a near-perfect match to the appearance of natural tooth enamel. Smile with confidence knowing no one ever has to know.
Dr Shail Jaggi is a passionate dentist with specialisation in cosmetic dentistry and endodontics. She manages an Advanced Microscope Enhanced Practice – Dentalwiz dealing with all aspects of dentistry. Dr Jaggi is recipient of ‘Outstanding Dentist Of The Year -2015’
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