What are the advantages of having a tooth-colored filling over a silver filling? Is it true that silver fillings may cause health risks?
Ans: The composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings have come a long way in recent years. Their strength and longevity are now comparable to that of the silver fillings, but with much-enhanced esthetics. The dentist has the capability to match the filling exactly to the shade and color of your tooth such that no one else will ever know you had a cavity. Another advantage of these tooth-colored restorations is that the preparation is relatively conservative. Only decay is removed, and the filling is then bonded to the area that has been prepared. Silver fillings do not have the same bonding capacity, and therefore rely on mechanical retention to hold the filling in place. As a result, good tooth structure is taken away to create the ideal depth and undercuts required to achieve adequate retention. Another advantage of composite restorations is that they are typically less sensitive to hot or cold, as metal tends to conduct temperature more readily. Since 1990, when “60 Minutes” ran a stor
Related Questions
- What are the advantages of having a tooth-colored filling over a silver filling? Is it true that silver fillings may cause health risks?
- What are the advantages of tooth-colored fillings (composites) over silver fillings (amalgam)?
- Are there any health advantages of white cavity fillings vs. silver fillings?