At Granville Dental, we have placed many thousands of “white” composite fillings. Due to their clear superiority, we choose not to install silver-colored amalgam fillings at all.
Advantages of Composite Fillings
- They are safe, strong, and attractive.
- They bond directly to teeth, becoming almost part of the teeth.
- There is less drilling and less healthy tooth structure removed.
- Many shades of white are available to match your natural teeth.
- Composites withstand even the forceful chewing of the molars.
- Older metal fillings that have become worn, cracked, or chipped can be replaced with tooth-colored fillings.
Disadvantages of Metal Amalgam Fillings
- With temperature changes, metal expands and contracts. This movement can separate the metal from the tooth, cracking and weakening it. Gaps also permit the entry and growth of bacteria. Some possible consequences are loose fillings, decay, and periodontal disease.
- Mercury, a toxic element, is one of the components of the amalgam used for fillings.
- Amalgams have a tendency to not attach to the teeth very firmly.
- Preparation for amalgams requires more drilling and removal of healthy tooth structure than is the case with composite fillings.
- Metal fillings often darken with age, ending up looking extremely dark. The contrast with natural white teeth makes the fillings prominent in an open mouth, such as when a person laughs.
- Tooth sensitivity may be more pronounced with metal fillings, especially cold sensitivity, because metal conducts cold into the pulp, where the nerves are.
- Some people have allergies to metal fillings.
Our Composite Brand of Choice
We prefer Premise composite material for these features:
- Low shrinkage
- Long-lasting luster
- Easy to sculpt and model
- Universally applicable for rear or front teeth
Call Granville Dental in Ohio at (740) 587-4891 or fill out our online contact form.