Problems with Amalgams
There are problems with amalgam fillings that dental patients need to be made aware of. Some of these problems are medical in nature, while others are cosmetic in nature. While amalgam fillings did at one time help save many teeth, they have outlived their usefulness. Today’s world of cosmetic dentistry now allows for better materials to be used that produce stronger teeth, a more natural smile, and a better overall health for the long-term dental health of the patient.
But what, exactly, is meant by the term amalgam filling?
Amalgam means that it is a combination of different metals. In the case of amalgams, fillings are composed of 35 percent silver, 15 percent tin (or sometimes tin mixed with copper), traces of zinc, and 50 percent mercury.
Amalgams have been used for decades as restorative solutions to cavities and cracks in teeth. Many health organizations still claim that the mercury used in these fillings is safe because it is atomically bonded to other metals. There are those who disagree, however. They claim that mercury is a toxic heavy metal and should not be trusted in the mouth, period.
Amalgams also expand with heat and cold. This causes them to stress the surrounding tooth mass. If the filling expands enough, it can actually crack the tooth from the inside out.
Corrosion is another problem that people with silver-mercury fillings face. Silver fillings corrode over time and start leaking. When this happens, bacteria get under the filling and decay starts to develop all over again.
Amalgams will also often fracture when a person ages. This breaks their protective seal, and decay ensues again.
Other problems with amalgams include cosmetic detriment to the person’s smile.
Honestly, silver-mercury fillings have never looked that good. They show up as dark spots on a tooth. In the back of the mouth on large molars, this is not a big deal. Few people look in the back of your mouth like that, and if they do, you probably don’t want them to like what they see.
However, the people that you smile at with your front teeth will notice your amalgams. If you have silver-mercury fillings in any of your front teeth, you are probably already self-conscious about this.
They also create unsightly dark gray stains on teeth and gums.
Thankfully, white fillings have now emerged on the scene that allow us to replace amalgams with better, healthier, and more aesthetic alternatives. New tooth-colored materials such as composite dental resin and porcelain allow us to avoid all these medical and cosmetic problems and produce reliable, durable, and natural-looking results.
But what, exactly, is meant by the term amalgam filling?
Amalgam means that it is a combination of different metals. In the case of amalgams, fillings are composed of 35 percent silver, 15 percent tin (or sometimes tin mixed with copper), traces of zinc, and 50 percent mercury.
Amalgams have been used for decades as restorative solutions to cavities and cracks in teeth. Many health organizations still claim that the mercury used in these fillings is safe because it is atomically bonded to other metals. There are those who disagree, however. They claim that mercury is a toxic heavy metal and should not be trusted in the mouth, period.
Amalgams also expand with heat and cold. This causes them to stress the surrounding tooth mass. If the filling expands enough, it can actually crack the tooth from the inside out.
Corrosion is another problem that people with silver-mercury fillings face. Silver fillings corrode over time and start leaking. When this happens, bacteria get under the filling and decay starts to develop all over again.
Amalgams will also often fracture when a person ages. This breaks their protective seal, and decay ensues again.
Other problems with amalgams include cosmetic detriment to the person’s smile.
Honestly, silver-mercury fillings have never looked that good. They show up as dark spots on a tooth. In the back of the mouth on large molars, this is not a big deal. Few people look in the back of your mouth like that, and if they do, you probably don’t want them to like what they see.
However, the people that you smile at with your front teeth will notice your amalgams. If you have silver-mercury fillings in any of your front teeth, you are probably already self-conscious about this.
They also create unsightly dark gray stains on teeth and gums.
Thankfully, white fillings have now emerged on the scene that allow us to replace amalgams with better, healthier, and more aesthetic alternatives. New tooth-colored materials such as composite dental resin and porcelain allow us to avoid all these medical and cosmetic problems and produce reliable, durable, and natural-looking results.
Labels: cosmetic dental resin, cosmetic teeth whitening, white fillings
posted by Dental Expert at
7:02 PM
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