Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

In our dental office, we do not use the old metal fillings called “amalgams.” Instead, we use white, tooth-colored filling material called “composite resin.” The older metal fillings are in no way attached to the tooth. The filling is packed into an undercut in the tooth structure so that it cannot fall out. It hangs onto the tooth much like a rock climber might wedge his or herself in-between two vertical rock faces by pushing against the two walls and digging fingers and toes into small crevices to hold on.

The problem with the metal fillings, which used to be the standard treatment for filling cavities, is that the cusps of teeth flex slightly when chewing, while metal filling material does not. This creates very tiny fractures that are difficult to see and track, and eventually the fractures become large enough for part of the tooth to actually break off. This is not the case with tooth-colored composite resins! This material is actually “glued” to the tooth so teeth are less prone to fracture, and the cusps flex without separating from the restoration. This improvement in physics, combined with the dramatic improvement with regard to aesthetics, is why we choose to deliver tooth-colored fillings instead of metal fillings. This is not because metal fillings are unsafe! 20 years ago, there were concerns regarding the levels of mercury in the metal fillings impacting the health of adults and children. Fortunately, scientific studies have shown time and time again that the use of metal fillings have no adverse impact on health.

— Dr. Valeri Sacknoff

For more information, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Pomerado Cosmetic Dentistry, please contact us today.