Amalgams Vs. Bonded Restorations
There's some debate in the dental industry
regarding the pros and cons of using silver
fillings, or dental amalgams, to fill cavities.
At our office, we exclusively use composite
resins for several reasons. First, composite
resin actually bonds to your tooth structure,
protecting against decay and strengthening the
tooth. And of course, strength means better
longevity increasing your chances of keeping
that tooth for life. By contrast, dental
amalgams do not form such a bond: they simply
form a mechanical barrier to decay. Thus, over
time, the amalgam-treated tooth can weaken,
often creating a liability to your long-term
dental health.
Amalgams
Tooth-color Fillings
Resins are also advantageous in providing
long-term bacterial invasion protection. Once
bonded, the filling won't wear down or change
its shape despite the incredible forces of
biting and chewing. Since there's no cracking or
shifting involved, there's no 'place of entry'
for bacteria. However, silver amalgams on biting
surfaces do change shape with biting and chewing
impact. Thus, little by little, the filling may
not 'fill' the cavity any longer. Tiny cracks
and shifts in the material can easily allow
bacterial reinvasion, creating a bigger decay
problem than you had at first. In addition to
these functional reasons, we appreciate the
esthetic value of composite resins: allowing us
to match your normal enamel color so closely
that your dental work will be nearly invisible.
So, all things considered, we find white
fillings to be the conservative, durable, and
attractive!.
Please call Smile Plus Cosmetic Dentistry to
make appointment or if have any questions and
needs more details. |
