If you get a cavity, you know that it’s best for your oral health to have it filled as soon as possible. But modern dentistry has produced so many great new materials that you may not know which – silver or tooth-colored fillings – are best for you.
Modern dentistry has two goals – to leave you with a healthier smile and at the same time improve the appearance of damaged teeth. Because of the availability today of natural-looking dental materials, the line between what’s considered cosmetic and what is restorative dentistry is blurry at best.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings, also referred to as composite fillings or dental composites, are a great example of how esthetics and restorative dentistry meet to provide you with a healthier, more beautiful smile.
These fillings are called composites because they are a blend of glass and resin particles. This mixture not only makes them very durable, but it also gives tooth-colored fillings a luminous appearance similar to natural dental enamel.
Because of the process used to place a composite filling, we can also preserve more healthy tooth structure.
Silver (Amalgam) Fillings
Silver fillings are also referred to as dental amalgam and are a mixture of mercury combined with other metals that create a highly-durable filling. Because of this, silver fillings are typically used on teeth like molars that withstand a lot of chewing force.
Amalgam fillings have been safely used for fillings for over 150 years but many people today are concerned about the presence of mercury in their mouths. Another issue with silver fillings is that, over time, they tend to darken, becoming more noticeable and giving your tooth a bluish hue. Structural problems can also allow the amalgam to pull away from the sides of the teeth and leave spaces where bacteria can collect and cause cavities.
We’ll Help You Decide
As you can see, both types of fillings have their benefits. We typically recommend tooth-colored fillings at our Bonita Springs dental office because they are as effective as amalgam, but they’re healthier and improve your appearance.
If you suspect you need a filling, please call Dr. Michael Gostigian and the team at Bonita Grande Dental.