Amalgam vs Composite Fillings – Which is Better?
Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way over the years and the days of traditional amalgam fillings are being replaced by the use of composite fillings. Why is it that you would choose composite fillings over traditional amalgam fillings? Dr. Glenn Reese in Acworth, GA discusses the difference between the two filling options and why you may choose one over the other.
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam Filling
The amalgam fillings are obvious, can you spot the composite filling?
Amalgam simply means a mixture of metals. In dentistry, amalgam fillings are typically made of mercury, silver, tin and copper and appear silver in color. Some may worry that the mercury in the amalgam fillings is harmful, but
Dental crowns. Broken, cracked, or decayed tooth? We can repair the structural integrity of your tooth as well as restore your ability to chew comfortably.
On average, individuals have eight amalgram fillings, which means they are absorbing 120 micrograms of mercury daily. People are also absorbing an average of 2.3 micrograms of mercury from eating fish and other seafoods and an additional 0.3 micrograms from water, air and other foods.
Of all the materials you can select for a dental crown, stainless steel is one of the most affordable materials available. Unlike some of the precious metals like gold that are used for dental crowns, steel is in abundance. It helps keep the cost the crown low.
It is also used in making switches and various other electronic apparatus. It is also used in make thermometers and barometers because of its greatest density of 13.534 gm cm to power of -3, it does not need a large tube to measure the pressure and thermometer. Like in a barometer if we use water then we would need a tube of 10.4m to measure the atmospheric temperature but if we use mercury we can measure the atmospheric temperature in a tube on only 0.76m. In a thermometers because of its large range of the boiling and melting points, it helps us to measure a large range of temperature. It also been used for making batteries. It can also be used to dental amalgams. Mercury is used to make dental amalgam because when it is mixed with amalgam powder, the compound it creates is soft enough to press on the tooth. it also becomes hard very fast which helps it to withstand the force of biting. But it has raised question on whether it is safe and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluated the research and told it is safe for people above 6 years of age.
Amalgam dental restorations which are also known as silver fillings are the number one choice for restoring teeth. These silver fillings have been used for over a hundred years to fill in cavities where there has been tooth decay. The question many have is “what is dental amalgam?” Dental amalgam is a mixture of materials containing powdered alloy, metals and mercury. There have been some concerns, however about the safety of this mercury containing filling material. “Amalgam is in the same safety class as gold and composite fillings” (FDA) and does not pose the safety concerns as once thought. Compared to other dental materials, such as composite and glass ionomer, amalgam is the “most studied and tested.” (NCAHF) Many
Metal braces are the traditional type of braces, but they have been upgraded from 50 years ago. Gone are the huge metal brackets that inspired the expression metal mouth. Today the brackets are much smaller and the arch wires are heat-activated, so your body heat can help move your teeth less painfully and more quickly. Arch wires are attached to the brackets and act as tracks that guide the teeth to the right position. The regular braces are steel colored, but you can express your personal style with different colored bands.
Having a cosmetic dental procedure can change your smile for the better and boost your confidence to the point where you’re living a better life. Whether you’re having veneers placed, your teeth whitened, a crown lengthening procedure, a gum reshaping treatment, a tooth filled, or a smile makeover, we are confident that you’ll love your new smile, and so will everyone that you greet with that smile on a daily basis!
When in doubt, you can ask your orthodontist for a sample of each material and hold the up to your teeth to see which you think looks better!
Is it silver filling or dental amalgam? Most people call it silver fillings, while the dentist calls it dental amalgam. "Dental amalgam was developed in France in the 1800's" (Gladwin & Bagby, 2013). In 1833, dental amalgam was introduced to the United States, which started the controversy immediately (Gladwin & Bagby, 2013). People went back and forth debating whether or not dental amalgam was safe or not. Many people do not realize that dental amalgam has been used for over 150 years and is one of the oldest materials in the oral health care ("Dental Amalgam", 1993). Dental amalgam contains a mixture of metals such as silver, which is the largest of filling and adds great strength to the amalgam, tin and copper, which also contribute to strengthening the compound, as well as mercury, which makes these components into a hard, stable, and safe substance that in amounts of up to 50 percent by weight(ADA.org, 2009).
From dental implants and anchored dentures to bondings/cosmetic fillings, from tooth transplantation to children dentistry, we provide a wide array
A composite filling is a glass and colored plastic mixture used to restore decay. Composite fillings provide excellent resistance and durability to fracture that need to withstand pressure from constant chewing. They reshape disfigured teeth and change the color of the teeth.
Similar to veneers, crowns improve the shape of teeth. Crowns cover the entire tooth and are recommended for teeth that have been weakened, broken, or have had procedures like root canals or implants. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, ceramic, or stainless steel. Most crowns can be completed by a cosmetic dentist in a single visit.
Be sure to have a discussion with your dentist about what material is best for your budget, your crown location and your long-term dental health if a dental crown is in your
fill cavities, close gaps between your teeth and repair worn down edges of your teeth. Dentists are the ones who do the direct composite bonding which means that the procedure is usually done in one dental visit.
Wright does not discuss the consumption of mercury through the silver/mercury filling vapors very much. She only points out that people with more fillings have shown to have more mercury content in their urine, with the dentists having performed the fillings having two to fives times as much.