Amalgam fillings, or to put it simply the “silver fillings”, have been used as tooth filling material for over 100 years. According to the dentist in Laguna Niguel, an amalgam filling is made up of a mixture of silver, tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. They provide several advantages, such as:
Fast hardening time for areas that are difficult to keep dry during placement.
Less placement time for children and special-needs patients who may find it difficult to keep still during treatment.
Extreme durability for large cavities or cavities on molars.
Even though dental amalgam is safe and is not an uncommon dental material, you probably can’t help but wonder what the mercury content is doing to your overall health, right? So, let’s take a look at dental fillings and alternatives to dental amalgams.
What Are Dental Fillings?
When an area on the patient’s tooth has a cavity or is decayed, a cosmetic dentist in Mission Viejo uses dental fillings which to fill up the area. The dentist takes out the decayed portion of the tooth and replaces it with the filling.
What Does A Tooth Filling Procedure Involve?
The dentist in Laguna Niguel uses a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth that is going to be filled. Then, a drill, air abrasion instrument, or laser is used to remove the decayed area. What instrument the dentist uses depends on their level of comfort, training, and investment in that specific piece of equipment along with the location and degree of the decay.
Afterward, the dentist will probe or test the area to check if all the decay has been removed. When all the decay is gone, the dentist will start cleaning the space of bacteria and debris. In the event that the decay is near the root, the dentist may want to place a liner made of glass ionomer, composite resin, or other material to protect the nerve. Normally, after the dentist has placed the filling, he or she will polish it.
If the patient opts for a tooth-colored filling there are some extra steps. After the dentist has removed the decay and cleaned the area, the tooth-colored material is applied in layers. Then, a special light that hardens each layer is applied. When the multilayering process is done, the dentist can start shaping the composite material to the desired result, remove any excess material, and polish the final restoration.
What Are The Different Types Of Fillings?
Nowadays, patients receiving dental implants in Mission Viejo are spoilt for choice with the number of different filling materials available. A patient can choose to fill their teeth with gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, or tooth-colored plastic and materials referred to as composite resin fillings. Also, there is a material that contains glass particles known as glass ionomer. According to the dentist in Laguna Niguel, this material is used in the same way as composite resin fillings.
Gold Fillings
Advantages of Cast Gold Fillings
• Very durable. Gold fillings can last 10 to 15 years or longer and they do not corrode.
• Gold fillings are strong and can tolerant the strains of chewing.
• Some patients like the look of gold compared to silver amalgam fillings.
Disadvantages of Cast Gold Fillings
• Gold cast fillings cost more than other materials. They are usually ten times more expensive than silver amalgam fillings.
• The patient has to do extra visits, at two additional office visits, when placing gold fillings.
• There is a higher risk of galvanic shock. This is when a gold filling is placed right next to a silver amalgam filling and causes sharp pain. When these metals and saliva interact an electric current takes place. It is a rare occurrence, but it can happen.
• Gold fillings are very apparent. Some patients may prefer fillings that match the rest of the tooth.
Silver Fillings (Amalgams)
Advantages of Silver Fillings:
• Silver fillings are durable. They last at least 10 to 15 years.
• They can tolerant chewing forces.
• They are affordable.
Disadvantages of Silver Fillings:
• Silver fillings don’t match the color of natural teeth.
• Healthy sections of the tooth have to be removed to make sufficient space to hold the amalgam fillings.
• Amalgam fillings can create a grayish shade to the surrounding tooth structure.
• All teeth expand and contract when a person consumes hot and cold liquids, which can cause the tooth to crack or fracture. However, teeth filled with amalgam material compared to other filling materials may experience an expansive range of expansion and contraction and may lead to a higher incidence of cracks and fractures.
• About 1 percent of people are allergic to the mercury present in amalgam fillings.
Amalgam fillings can release low levels of mercury in the form of a vapor that can be inhaled and absorbed by the lungs. High levels of mercury vapor exposure are correlated with adverse effects in the brain and kidneys.
White Fillings
Modern-day, mercury-free, resin-based composite fillings (white fillings) are also available at Aria Dental. Composite resin fillings are made from plastic mixed with powdered glass to make them stronger.
They are designed to withstand chewing forces and support a minimally invasive dental restoration. Because they can match the color of natural teeth, they blend effortlessly, giving you a beautiful smile. Also, a mercury-free filling is absolutely safe for anyone whether you are a child or an adult.
Advantages of White Fillings:
• They match the color of the teeth.
• The dentist does not have to remove a lot of tooth structure compared to amalgam fillings.
• BPA-free materials can be used.
• Durability. The mercury-free filling lasts longer than amalgam fillings.
• Less invasive since there is no mercury that can permeate the structure of the teeth, which can destroy it in the process
Disadvantages of White Fillings:
• Higher cost than amalgam fillings.
• Inlays can take more than one visit.
• It needs more time to place than amalgam fillings.
If you have the nagging pain of a toothache coming on and you may suspect you need a filling, give Aria dental a call or text today at (949) 364-9600 to schedule your appointment with one of our dedicated and professional cosmetic dentists.
