In our professional experience, composite dental fillings made from resin and porcelain are the best options for filling teeth with cavities and cracks The use of dental amalgam, also known as silver-mercury fillings, is no longer a wise or viable option in general dentistry. Their use dates back to the Civil War and many dentists throughout the country still use them in their daily practice.
These outdated fillings are made from silver and mercury that harden when the two are mixed. There are a number of reasons why use composite dental fillings instead.
For one thing, composite dental fillings contain no mercury. They are made either from special resins or from porcelain. Amalgam fillings can consist of as much as 55 percent mercury at the time teeth are filled. The problem is, mercury leaks out of the filling over a period of years. In five years, mercury content is normally around 27 percent.
After fifteen years, it is down to zero. It is the position of our group that patients should never have to ingest mercury in any amount, as it is highly toxic. It will show up in the liver, placental barrier, and mother's milk. While we have no definite proof linking mercury contamination to a number of diseases often mentioned in the media, we do have cause for concern.
So why don't all dentists use composite dental fillings instead? This is an intriguing question. Mercury is still part of the standard curriculum in most dental schools. It is inexpensive, and it is easy to place. Some insurance companies will even go so far as to insist on amalgams because the payout on them is less expensive than composite porcelain or resin fillings.
It is ironic that when we remove amalgam scraps from a patients teeth, we have to store them in a hazardous waste container. Why then would such a toxic substance be found in a human mouth to begin with? The answer is that amalgam had be in use prior to either the federal government or the American Dental Association systematic testing of which materials were safe to use in dentistry. If tested today, mercury certainly would not be approved. However, it was permitted to remain in use after the fact through a grandfather clause which is still in effect till this day.
There is another very important reason to opt for cosmetic dental fillings instead of mercury-silver. They do not expand and contract in response to temperature changes. Mercury, on the other hand, is an expansive substance, which is why it is so effective when placed in thermometers.
When mercury heats up, it expands. It makes no sense to us to place a substance that is more than 50 percent mercury into a brittle tooth. Drinking or eating anything cold, then eating or drinking something hot will have to same effect on the filling as the substance in a thermometer. In our practice, we see so many adult molar fractures that we now believe these fillings are responsible for so many cracked teeth.
Finally, from an aesthetic perspective, a dental filling made from porcelain or resin will blend right in with the natural color of teeth. This allows a properly trained dental professional to make almost any tooth look brand new at the end of the day.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat.
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