Metal vs. Tooth-colored Fillings
There was a time when getting a filling meant that patients had to compromise the appearance of their smiles in order to improve their oral health. This was because traditional fillings were composed of conspicuous metal materials, such as gold or, more commonly, silver amalgam. While these fillings were strong and could last for years with proper maintenance, they were strictly utilitarian. They offered no cosmetic benefits to speak of.
Fortunately, advances in dental technology have made it possible for patients to protect their teeth while maintaining beautifully white, natural-looking smiles. Tooth-colored fillings offer outstanding oral health benefits while blending seamlessly with surrounding natural tooth structures. This is why most of our Redwood City cosmetic dentistry patients prefer tooth-colored dental fillings over their traditional metal counterparts.
Metal Fillings
The most common metal filling is an amalgam of silver, copper, and mercury. The durability of metal fillings has never been in question; however, in recent years, there has been some controversy over the possible dangers of the mercury – which is poisonous to humans in higher concentrations – used in these fillings. While there is no conclusive evidence that mercury fillings are detrimental to the health of patients, there is no dispute whatsoever that metal fillings are less than natural looking. Metal fillings, particularly when used to treat those teeth that are visible when a person smiles, have marred many an otherwise beautiful smile through the years.
It should be noted that many practices still use silver amalgam fillings in the United States, believing them to be safe and effective, if not particularly attractive. However, some countries have placed restrictions on the use of these fillings, while Norway became the first country to ban their use altogether.
Tooth-colored Dental Fillings
For years, dental laboratories had been trying to develop a viable tooth-colored alternative to traditional metal fillings. The primary concern had been that more aesthetically pleasing materials were simply not as strong as metal materials. Fortunately, modern composite fillings are virtually as strong as metal fillings, and offer a host of other advantages, as well. Aside from being practically indistinguishable from natural tooth structures, the composite material bonds to the teeth chemically. This means that less of the natural tooth’s material needs to be removed prior to the placement of the filling. Likewise, tooth-colored fillings do not expand or contract as dramatically as metal fillings upon exposure to heat and cold; this makes them less likely to weaken or crack the tooth.
Most importantly to many of our Redwood City dental fillings patients, our tooth-colored fillings do not contain any mercury. Indeed, many health-conscious patients with old-fashioned silver amalgam fillings turn to our practice to have these restorations replaced with modern tooth-colored fillings.
As with all of the treatments offered by Dr. Barthman, patients who are fitted with tooth-colored dental fillings at our practice can expect to achieve exceptionally beautiful, natural-looking results that will last for years.
Contact Jean Barthman, D.D.S. Today
There is no reason that a healthy smile cannot also be flawlessly beautiful, even after treatment for tooth decay. For further information about tooth-colored dental fillings, please contact our Redwood City dental practice today.