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Mercury
Free Dentistry
 A natural looking solution!
A composite resin
filling (white filling) is:
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mercury free |
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made of a tooth colored plastic mixture filled with
glass particles |
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used for restoring decay |
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used for cosmetic
improvements |
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New technological advancements in dentistry has allowed us to do white
(composite or resin) natural tooth colored filling.
The advantages of white
fillings are:
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Composite filling integrates
with the tooth...it doesn't weaken the tooth as a silver
filling does. |
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We now can make a smaller hole, since the white material can flow into small
places.
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Due to the smaller hole, there is more of your own tooth left, leaving it
stronger.
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Secondary decay is easier to
spot beneath tooth colored fillings. |
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If damaged, they can be
easily fixed. |
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They are temperature and
electrical insulators-resistant to extremes of heat and
cold. |
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Environmentally safe-no
hazardous metal wastes to dispose of and no risk of mercury
allergy. |
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Allowing us to fix smaller cavities.
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You don't have to wait till a cavity gets "big enough to fill".
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In some cases we can do an almost microscopic filling just when it starts
by using air abrasion instead of the
drill. These are often done without anesthetic if we catch them early
enough.
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They are a more natural, attractive choice.
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Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth
to help prevent breakage.
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Composite insulate the tooth from excessive temperature
changes.
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Composites (white fillings) last about 8 years with a range
of 7-10 years.
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Disadvantages:
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The presence of saliva can
compromise the bonding process. The tooth require
isolation. |
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This matter will not work
well on wisdom teeth because there is no adjacent tooth to
shore up the outer edge. |
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Potential to leak. |
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Many insurance companies do
not yet cover them. |
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How Are They
Placed?
1. The decayed portions of the the tooth must be removed
which leaves a hole that needs to be filled to restore the tooth to its original
form and function.
2. The tooth is prepared and etched with a mild acid
solution.
3.Than the composite is placed in layers, using a light
specialized to harden each layer.
4. When the process is done the filling will be shaped to fit
the tooth.
This filling is than polished to
prevent staining and early wear. It takes the dentist about 10-20 minutes
longer to place a composite than a silver filling because larger the size the
longer the filling will take.
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Cost
Vary, but are usually about one and a
half to two times more than the price of a silver filling. Most dental
insurance plans cover the cost at the price of a silver filling with patient
paying the difference.*
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Disadvantages
Some post
operative sensitivity can occur. The shade of the composite can change due
to staining by tea, coffee or other staining foods. They may to wear out
sooner than silver fillings in large cavities however this is changing due to
new technology.
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Home
Care
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Use a neutral
sodium fluoride because stannous fluorides
can be detrimental or negative effect on
composite resins and ceramics.
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Use a soft
toothbrush or electric toothbrush twice a
day
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Floss once
a day, before bedtime is the best time to
floss.
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Use an
non-abrasive toothpaste like original
Crest or Colgate. Avoid "extra
whitening" or "whitening"
toothpaste. These toothpaste often
are very abrasive and can scratch
restorations.
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Drink tea,
coffee or coke through a straw to avoid
staining this material.
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Alcohol
rinses may affect the longevity of a
restoration. Alcohol is a solvent
of resin/resin cements/bonding
agents. The result is softening of the
composite matrix; which may increase
our ability to abrade the resin material, making
it rougher and more prone to staining and
early breakdown. Recommend
switching to alcohol free rinse
and mouth spray alternatives.
*Sources: Academy of General Dentistry.
Silver
Fillings Causing Tooth Fractures?
Silver mercury fillings that were placed
years ago, before bonding technology, may
need to be replaced to prevent fractures.
The silver plugged the holes in your teeth
where the cavities were but it weakened
the teeth because it didn’t restore the
molecular bonds that nature gave the tooth
in the first place. Your teeth depend on
those molecular bonds for optimal
strength.No dentist can improve upon the
work of nature. However, bonded fillings
don’t just “fill the hole;” they actually
restore 85% of the strength that the tooth
had before it had its first filling.
The remaining tooth structure is less likely
to flex to the point where it breaks away.
10/06
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