If you’ve ever had a cavity, you know what a filling is. It’s a method to restore a tooth damaged by a cavity back to its normal shape and function. If you’ve gotten a filling recently, odds are you’ve gotten one made of composite, and not metal. You may have noticed elderly folks with silver or gold fillings. However, these days people typically receive composite fillings that blend in with the color of the tooth. Let’s talk about why your dentist recommends you get a composite filling over a metal one.
How Fillings Work
When you have a cavity and need a filling, your dentist will usually start by administering a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. Then he or she will remove the decayed parts of the tooth to prepare for the filling. Next, your dentist will place the composite resin and mold it into shape, then harden it with a special light. Once the filling is hardened, your dentist will polish the tooth, and you will be good to go.
Fillings work by helping to retain the structure of a damaged tooth. They also prevent further decay by blocking off the area where bacteria can enter the tooth.
The History of Metal Fillings
Fillings have been used for thousands of years, but the first recorded use of metal fillings wasn’t until the mid-1800s. They used dental amalgams, or a filling that consisted of a mix of tin, silver, copper, and mercury. Controversy about mercury use arose, so today, amalgam fillings are made with other types of metals, such as silver, instead. These days, metal fillings have sort of fallen out of style, as they don’t blend in with the natural tooth like composite fillings do.
Concerns with Metal Fillings
The main concern with metal fillings was the fact that they involved mercury. However, everyone is exposed to trace amounts of mercury in everyday life through food, drinking water, and even air. Studies have shown that as amalgam fillings made with mercury wear down, they gradually release mercury in the form of a vapor. However, this amount is very low and is unlikely to cause detrimental side effects.
There are a few conditions under which you should avoid fillings with mercury. If you are already exposed to higher amounts of mercury through your job or it you are pregnant, you may want to opt for a composite filling, just to be on the safe side.
Benefits of Composite Fillings
Some advantages that composite fillings have over amalgam include:
- Blending in with the natural tooth color
- Containing zero amounts of mercury
- Being durable because they are actually bonded to the tooth, unlike amalgam fillings, which are simply wedged into the tooth
Ultimately, the choice of which type of filling you desire is between you and your dentist. The important thing is that it heals your tooth from decay and protects it from future damage. If you have a cavity, be sure to alert your dentist right away so that it doesn’t worsen.
About the Practice
At Miller & Wolf Family Dentistry in Altavista, VA, you can receive a comprehensive variety of services under one roof. Our three dentists are skilled in several different areas, including restorative dentistry to repair your teeth with fillings. To learn more, click here or call (434)-324-8241.