What are Dental Fillings?
- While our practice is mercury-free, many people have fillings made of silver or mercury from years prior
- Mercury/silver fillings are many times unsightly, and can lead to a weakening of the tooth itself
- Porcelain and tooth-colored restorations not only create aesthetically pleasing and nearly-invisible fillings, but they also can help strengthen teeth significantly due to new bonding technologies.
Disadvantages of Silver fillings
Silver fillings come with their fair share of drawbacks and issues. Not only can the edges of the silver fillings themselves wear down, or break with age, this can result in less protection for the tooth their are set in and can cause more issues, such as cavities, down the road. Along with this, as the fillings age they can expand or split, causing issues to the original tooth.
Along with structural instability, silver fillings are 50% mercury, which can lead to corrosion, leaking, and staining of the teeth and gums.
However, silver fillings can be easily and safely replaced with modern day porcelain and tooth-colored fillings.
Advantages of Tooth-Colored Restorations
White fillings come with many unique advantages that are unique to this type of filling. Resin onlays bond directly to the enamel itself, creating a perfectly sealed fit that matches the natural tooth and looks aesthetically pleasing. Along with providing a more pleasing aesthetic for your smile, porcelain or tooth-colored restorations can be used to repair teeth that are very damaged, such as ones that require many individual fillings. And since the resin itself contains fluoride, your teeth will be protected against further decay! The resin acts like a replacement for the tooth’s enamel, which leads to less gum irritation and better overall dental health.
Take back your beautiful smile!
Replacing Silver Fillings with a Tooth Colored Restoration
Replacing old silver fillings with resin fillings requires up to two dental appointments.
Your First Appointment
- Removal of the old filling and any new decay in the tooth
- An impression of your teeth is formed and sent to the lab.
- A temporary crown is placed on the tooth to prevent further damage.
At the Lab: A model of your teeth is made, and a resin overlay is custom made to fit the unique structure of your teeth.
Your Second Appointment
- Your dentist will remove the temporary crown.
- The underlying tooth is cleaned and conditioned to prepare its for the filling.
- Dental cement is painted onto the tooth, and UV light is used to bond the resin to your tooth.
- The resin is polished to match the rest of your teeth.
The result: your tooth is strengthened and restored to a natural look, as well as being protected from decay for years to come.
