Silver fillings known as amalgam have been around for decades. They are a mixture of silver, mercury, tin, and copper and offer excellent durability for tooth restorations.
New advances in dentistry have given us options for replacing old amalgam fillings. One option is composite fillings, which are made of ceramic and plastic compounds.
Durability
Unlike traditional amalgam white fillings Carmel IN, which contain mercury (a known neurotoxin) and other metals like silver, tin, and copper, composite resin doesn’t release toxic vapors during chewing or grinding. This makes composite fillings a healthy, holistic alternative to amalgam.
Composite resin is a mixture of plastic and glass, which can be colored to closely match the shade of your natural teeth. Because it doesn’t contain any type of metal, composite fillings can also be molded into the shape of a tooth without the risk of creating an unnatural appearance.
After numbing the treatment site, our team will apply a special etching compound to the tooth’s surface to open up natural microscopic pores, which will create a strong bond with the composite resin. Our team will then place the material in layers, curing each layer with a blue light to ensure a long-lasting result. Afterward, our team will shape the white fillings Carmel IN to resemble a natural tooth and then polish it to smooth away any rough spots.
Aesthetics
Composite fillings are incredibly subtle and blend in well with natural tooth structure. They can be shade-matched to the surrounding tooth, and they even mimic the reflective qualities of enamel. As a result, you can enjoy a confident smile without anyone knowing you have any fillings.
Unlike amalgam, which is a mix of various metals, composite resin is completely biocompatible and contains no mercury. It is also a strong material that bonds with a tooth to help make it stronger and prevent future decay or damage.
Our dentists are highly skilled in using composite resin to repair a range of dental issues. They can use it to fix a single cavity or replace old amalgam white fillings Carmel IN. They can place a direct restoration (direct bonding) or an indirect restoration (inlay or onlay). An inlay or onlay is fabricated by a dental laboratory before being cemented into or onto the tooth. Direct restorations can typically be placed in one appointment.
Comfort
Traditional amalgam fillings contain mercury, silver, tin and copper, which can leak and cause a number of health issues. By contrast, white fillings are made from resin and contain no mercury. This makes them safer and more comfortable for patients. Additionally, composite resin does not transfer heat as quickly as metal, so it protects the tooth from temperature fluctuations that could otherwise lead to sensitivity.
In addition, composite bond tightly to the enamel, so they require less natural tooth material to be removed during treatment. This means that your dental team at Deldar Dental can remove your old amalgam fillings using our safe SMART protocol and replace them with a more aesthetically pleasing, mercury-free solution. It is all part of our holistic approach to improving the quality of your oral health and wellbeing.
Health
White fillings are crafted from composite resin, a biocompatible material that contains no metals. Traditional silver amalgam white fillings Carmel IN contain trace amounts of mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin that can leak into the mouth and bloodstream over time.
Because composite resin blends in so well with tooth materials, we can often repair small cavities without removing much of the affected tooth structure. This means more of your natural smile remains intact and aesthetically pleasing, unlike with traditional amalgam fillings that cause tooth discoloration.
Furthermore, because of how composite white fillings insulate the teeth, they don’t transfer heat as quickly as metal does. This helps prevent painful tooth sensitivity from hot or cold food and drinks that often affect people with silver amalgam fillings.
To ensure that your new white fillings look their best, we use a technique called dental bonding. This involves etching the surface of your tooth to open up microscopic pores, which composite resin can then bond to. This process makes the tooth white fillings Carmel IN more durable and keeps them from leaking or wearing out over time.
