Mercury Amalgam vs. Bonded White Fillings
March 29, 2017
When patients think of getting cavities filled, their minds might often wander to silver and gold-colored teeth. Dental technology has changed a lot over the last few decades and the new choices available to you for many common treatments might surprise you. When it comes to dental fillings you have a choice between mercury amalgam and bonded white fillings. Here is the vital information you need to know about these two options.
Mercury Amalgam
An amalgam consists of a few different materials. In this case, it is made of a safe variety of mercury, silver, tin and copper. It has a silver color and is usually placed right into the cavity to fill the void. One of the benefits to mercury amalgam is that it is rather strong and holds up well for long periods of time. Some drawbacks include that if the size of the cavity changes, the amalgam may crumble and fall out. In addition, the silver has a tendency to slowly turn tooth enamel gray over time. If you grind your teeth a lot or have trouble during placement with keeping your mouth dry, then mercury amalgam might work.
Bonded White
Bonded white fillings are also known as composite fillings. The filling is glued into place and cured, but the materials must be kept completely dry through the bonding process. Bonded fillings have an advantage of looking just like the natural tooth, so the filling is less conspicuous. Bonded white fillings might not last as long if not cared for properly or if a patient grinds his or her teeth a lot.
Which Is the Better Choice?
It is ultimately up to you and your dentist in Bethel, CT, to determine if mercury amalgam or bonded white fillings are the better choice. They both have advantages and disadvantages, and they both have been proven successful over decades of use. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Joann Perrotta or Dr. Ken SianGiacomo at Bethel Gentle Dental by calling our office today.