Tooth Coloured Fillings
Serving Kanata, Stittsville and Ottawa, Ontario
What would you say if you sat down in your dentist’s chair and he told you he intended to use a 200-year-old remedy for cavities? You might ask him if he were joking, or you might just run for the door. But what you may not know is that those metal fillings in your teeth were first used in the 1820’s, almost 200 years ago.
Metal Amalgam Fillings: Pitfalls and Problems
You may be familiar with some of the common problems with metal amalgam fillings. Problems like:
- Mercury content
- Leaching of metal into surrounding tissues
- Expansion and contraction weakening teeth
- High visibility when speaking or smiling
Metal amalgam fillings may contain up to 50% mercury and, though this is not as common as in the early 1900’s, any mercury content is potentially dangerous and may cause damage to the soft tissues and even the tooth your filling is meant to protect.
It is very accurate to say that metal amalgam fillings are outdated, and with the advent of tooth-coloured fillings made of composite dental material, there is no reason for continuing to use metal amalgam in fillings.
Benefits of Tooth Coloured Fillings
The most obvious benefit of porcelain and composite fillings is that they are less visible than their metal counterparts. In fact, many individuals come to Dentistry at Main in order to have their highly visible metal fillings removed and replaced with tooth coloured fillings.
However, there are other benefits of tooth coloured fillings. In particular, because porcelain and dental composite are more chemically stable than metal amalgam, they do not expand and contract with heat and cold, helping better protect your teeth.
Tooth coloured fillings, particularly those made from porcelain inlays and onlays, can be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. The result is that your teeth appear whole and healthy, without the flash of silver or gold when you speak or smile.
Ottawa cosmetic dentist Dr. Ami Barakat and our team of experienced dental professionals are firm believers in whole tooth health, and because of this, we have not used metal restorations for over 7 years.
Please contact our Ottawa cosmetic dentist today to schedule an appointment. Dentistry at Main serves patients in the areas of Ottawa, Stittsville, and Kanata, Ontario.
