How Effective Is an Amalgam Filling?

Cavity fillings are typically routine procedures for most patients and dentists alike. After all, the process is relatively simple. The patient walks in, the dentist’s assistant administers a local anesthesia, then the dentist fills the tooth, after which the patient can leave as usual. Most people forget about the process afterward unless they develop a new cavity.

But cavity fillings can be more nuanced than you might imagine, because there are many different types of fillings a person could choose from. Your dentist probably has one standard choice for you, but is it really the best type of filling? The two most common types of fillings for cavities include dental amalgams and composite fillings.

Dental Amalgams
For a long time, the most common type of dental filling was the dental amalgam. Dental amalgams are actually created from an alloy of different types of metal, usually silver, tin and copper bound tightly together by mercury, thus creating the distinctive metallic tinge that most people instinctively recognize. They tend to be the cheapest type of filling and are very durable.

Another important advantage of dental amalgams is ease of placement. Dental amalgams require much less technical expertise on the side of the dentist and, moreover, can be installed more quickly than any other kind of filling. Not only can they be easily placed, they tend to very long-lasting and easily repaired if damages are sustained.

After a brief glance, dental amalgams seem like the ideal choice, but they have a clear disadvantage: esthetics. Amalgams are naturally silverish, and they make a filling stand out clearly amidst the whiteness of ordinary teeth. Additionally, because their material is made out of metal, dental amalgams can cause the tooth housing the amalgam to become discolored over time, highlighting the difference even further.

Many people are also concerned about the mercury content in amalgam fillings. Because mercury is a poisonous substance, there is the potential for that toxicity to be ingested over time. Although most studies show that there is very little risk of complications (aside from an unpreventable allergic reaction), the lingering fear remains.

Composites
Dental amalgams are rejected primarily because of their esthetic result, but composites are the exact opposite. They are lauded because they can be created to resemble an ordinary tooth. Composites are created out of a variety of materials (including plastic and glass) and can be colored to match the shade of the surrounding tooth. They tend to be more expensive than amalgams, however, but present other benefits as well.

Composites also are extremely versatile. Because they not only fill cavities but bond chemically to the rest of the tooth, composites can be used not only for tooth decay but also to mend chips and cracks that might have formed.

The ability to bond to the tooth has other advantages as well. First of all, it makes the filling stronger, because the filling is no longer an independent piece glued in but an intrinsic part of the tooth. As a result, and perhaps more importantly, the filling preserves the tooth better. Most fillings require the tooth to be filed down to make space for the filling material, but composites can mold to the parts of the tooth already present better.

If you feel that tooth-colored fillings in Aloha are best for you, or if you want more details regarding either method, make sure to contact a qualified dentist to get a professional’s opinion. One solution might ultimately be better for you, so getting an accurate diagnosis and estimation is crucial to make sure that you get the type of filling you need.