There's some debate in the dental industry regarding the pros and cons
of using silver fillings, or dental amalgams, to fill cavities. At
our office, we exclusively use composite resins for several reasons.
First, composite resin actually bonds to your tooth structure, protecting
against decay and strengthening the tooth. And of course, strength
means better longevity…increasing your chances of keeping that
tooth for life. By contrast, dental amalgams do not form such a bond:
they simply form a mechanical barrier to decay. Thus, over time, the
amalgam-treated tooth can weaken, often creating a liability to your
long-term dental health.
Resins are also advantageous in providing long-term bacterial invasion
protection. Once bonded, the filling won't wear down or change its shape
despite the incredible forces of biting and chewing. Since there's no
cracking or shifting involved, there's no 'place of entry' for bacteria.
However, silver amalgams on biting surfaces do change shape with biting
and chewing impact. Thus, little by little, the filling may not 'fill'
the cavity any longer. Tiny cracks and shifts in the material can easily
allow bacterial reinvasion, creating a bigger decay problem than you
had at first. In addition to these functional reasons, we appreciate
the esthetic value of composite resins: allowing us to match your normal
enamel color so closely that your dental work will be nearly invisible.
So, all things considered, we find white fillings to be the conservative,
durable, and attractive!
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