Approximately 91 percent of U.S. adults aged 20–64 had dental caries in permanent teeth in 2011–2012, according to CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. While we would love to discuss ways to prevent dental decay, it is also important to talk about how we repair these cavities once they’ve formed. Your options for repairing a decayed tooth is not what they were several years ago. Amalgam (metal) fillings used to be the standard of care, but dentists are now using a much more preferred filling material. Composite resin, known for its “tooth colored” properties has replaced the traditional silver filling for both children and adults.

Aesthetic Appeal

There’s nothing worse than laughing hard with friends and realizing you’ve just flashed a mouthful of metal with your amalgam fillings – a visible reminder that you struggled to keep up with your dental health in the past and suffered the consequences. Metal fillings can be embarrassing as well as threaten your smile’s overall beauty. What’s worse is that amalgam fillings tend to darken over time (due to oxidation), making them stand out even more as the years pass. Choosing a metal-free composite restoration means that you can remain confident in your smile’s appearance with the ability put that past cavity experience behind you for good.

The Safety Concern of Metal

In recent years, dentistry has received a push to end the use of dental amalgam. This is not because amalgam isn’t durable or strong enough, because it certainly is. However, beyond the aesthetic concern of using silver fillings, the mercury content found in this amalgam restoration has received quite a bit of controversy – enough to even cause adults to get their existing silver fillings removed.

The inclusion of mercury in an amalgam filling raises concern within general health and wellness. It is believed that when the amalgam filling gets heated from chewing, the mercury vapors are released from the filling in the process. Researchers worry that this mercury can be absorbed into the body’s tissues and inhaled, sending the unhealthy toxin into all parts of the body.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

At Soft Touch Dentistry, we are committed to using the latest dental materials available. We recognize those products and materials that are proven safe and effective for your health as well as those that protect your smile confident. Learn more about how composite fillings can restore an area of tooth damage without bringing concerns for safety or aesthetics.

Posted on behalf of Dr. Sarah Thompson, Soft Touch Dentistry
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