It used to be that in order for dental patients to restore teeth after cavities or damage, they had to receive amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings are made up of a mixture of metals, including mercury.
As dentistry has advanced, amalgam fillings have been surpassed by composite fillings. Our O’Fallon dentists only restore teeth with composite fillings; today we’re going to review some of the reasons why people prefer composite fillings to other options.
- Natural Appearance
Composite fillings are naturally white, and they can further be custom-shaded to blend with the surrounding dental enamel. Amalgam fillings, on the other hand, are dark and thus give a grey/metallic hue to the tooth. Composite fillings look exceptionally natural. Additionally, composite resin, as a material, looks very similar to natural dental enamel.
- Conservative Option
When restoring a damaged tooth, our team always makes it a priority to conserve as much healthy, natural tooth structure as possible. When placing a composite filling our dentists do not need to shave and shape the tooth as drastically as we do with amalgam.
- Less Reactivity
Amalgam fillings are prone to expanding when exposed to heat, and then contracting when exposed to cold. These changes are minuscule, but they can affect the surrounding tooth structure over time. Amalgam fillings may lead to cracked or chipped enamel, and can actually come loose over time. Composite fillings do not put the same amount of pressure on the tooth.
More and more dental patients are choosing composite fillings, and replacing mercury restorations with more modern composite. If you want to learn more about your treatment options, and what it’s like to receive a dental filling, our O’Fallon restorative dentists are here to help. Call our office, or use the Contact Us page on our website to schedule a personal consultation.