One of the goals of dentistry and dental restoration has been to develop materials that would simulate natural tooth structure as closely as possible, in appearance and physical properties.   There has been a growing concern for the potential health hazards imposed by use of dental materials that include toxic compounds. The biggest of which is  concern regarding mercury found in silver fillings. Mercury is one of the most toxic non-radio active metals found in nature and is makes up to 50% of the contents of a silver filling.

In our office we never use mercury silver fillings, instead we have used a tooth colored plastic filling which is called composite. These are called composites because they are actually a combination of 30% plastic and 70% microscopic particles of a glass-like material. The plastic enables us to bond the filling into the tooth and the glass-like particles help to make the material resistant to wear.

As wonderful as these composite materials are they do have their limitations. They are not as strong or resistant to wear as other materials discussed below. For this reason they are not the best choice for repairing large defects in the back teeth which get a heavy workout in chewing.

Composite Fillings

• Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of the original strength of the tooth. Silver weakens the teeth, making them more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth are very expensive to restore, composites can save a lot of expense over the long run.
• Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth.
• Teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with amalgam..
• Composites are mercury-free.
• Composites require less removal of tooth structure. Especially with new cavities, the size of the hole made for the filling can be dramatically smaller with composites.

Inlays

Dental inlays are used to treat teeth that have decay or damage lying within their indented top surfaces. They can also be used to replace old or damaged metal fillings. Inlay placement is usually carried out over two appointments.

• During your first visit to the dentist, an impression of your tooth will be taken, and a temporary inlay will be placed over the tooth.
• We will send the impression off to a dental lab, which will create the inlay to match your tooth’s specifications.
• When you return to the office, the temporary inlay will be removed and the permanent one will be placed carefully over your tooth.
• There is no downtime after receiving a dental inlay, only a mild level of tenderness in the treated area, so you can return to work or other activities as soon as you leave the office.

Onlays – Crowns

When the tooth defect to be repaired grows to a significant size, the strength of the tooth will be compromised. We’ll often see teeth with old mercury fillings that are developing cracks in the enamel and underlying structure because the filling has acted as a wedge in the tooth over time. These teeth are best restored by a means that reinforces the strength of the tooth by covering a portion of the tooth in the case of an onlay or all of the tooth in the case of a crown.