27 Jul Metal Free Fillings
For many decades, fillings used to repair the teeth have been made from dental amalgam, a mixture of metals that includes mercury. In recent years, though, new options have arisen. Many people choose to use these alternate materials in fillings because of concerns about the presence of mercury in their mouths. We offer mercury filling removal in Dallas so that you can feel confident that your fillings are strong, high quality, and mercury free.
Why Remove Metal Fillings?
A common reason cited for mercury filling removal is discomfort with the use of mercury in these fillings. However, there are other reasons to have metal fillings removed. Metal conducts heat and cold easily, often leading to uncomfortable sensations when you eat cold or hot foods. They also do not expand and contract when exposed to heat and cold, while your teeth do. This can lead to cracks in the teeth, or spaces between the filling and the rest of the tooth.
Regardless of your reasons for having metal fillings removed, Dr. Philip R. Kozlow can offer experience and skill in replacing these fillings with metal-free, tooth colored fillings.
Advantages to Non-Metal Fillings
The most common materials used for metal free fillings are porcelain and composite. These substances bond naturally with the tooth, reducing the chances of cracks in the teeth or separation of the filling from the material of the tooth. They also have the advantage of being the same color as your natural teeth. Instead of large, unattractive, dark metal fillings, you will have fillings that are virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding surface of your tooth.
If a tooth has been cracked after several years with a metal filling, or if the metal filling has drawn away from the tooth, many dentists will recommend replacement with non-metal fillings because of the bonding action between the filling and the tooth. This will keep the tooth from cracking more severely, and the use of composite or porcelain will greatly reduce the possibility of future separation. Overall, porcelain or composite fillings provide many advantages over traditional amalgam, leading more and more patients—and dentists—to turn to these alternative materials.
If you would like more information about mercury filling removal, please contact the office of Dr. Kozlow at (972) 458-2464 to schedule your consultation.