Even when you are diligent about your oral health, tooth decay is not always avoidable. Thankfully, when decay is detected in its early stages, it can easily be cleaned out and protected with a filling.
Bluffton cosmetic dentist Dr. Timothy Gross offers tooth-colored fillings – using porcelain or dental composite – as part of our commitment to being a mercury-free dentistry practice. Both porcelain and composite fillings are not only capable of seamlessly blending with your smile, they also provide better protection than metal amalgam, and do not contain any harmful substances that might compromise your health.
Tooth-Colored vs. Metal Amalgam Fillings
When compared to metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings are better in almost every respect. White fillings require less of your natural tooth structure to be removed before placement, and they are directly bonded to your tooth to ensure optimal strength. Other advantages of tooth-colored fillings include:
- Block harmful bacteria from getting beneath the filling
- Less tooth sensitivity
- More durable
- Longer-lasting
Metal fillings expand and contract with temperature fluctuations. This expansion and contraction can cause your filling to become loose and fall out, or it can crack and damage your tooth. Tooth-colored fillings are immune to temperature changes. They will not expand or contract, fall out, or damage your natural tooth. These benefits combine to make tooth colored fillings the obvious choice for filling cavities.
Replacing Metal Fillings
The advantages of tooth-colored fillings are so significant that many people come to us looking to have their old metal fillings replaced. This is one of the most common procedures we perform. Dr. Gross will carefully remove your old fillings and thoroughly clean your teeth to ensure there is no lingering residue. He will then craft and bond your new white restorations to your teeth. If you are concerned about the effect that mercury amalgam might have had on your body, we work with local physicians who perform chelation therapy to help you rid your body of all harmful metals and related toxins.
If you live on Hilton Head Island or in the Bluffton, South Carolina area, please contact Dr. Timothy Gross today to schedule an initial consultation. We can help you enhance your smile and protect your oral health at the same time.
