White fillings versus silver fillings are a huge topic of conversation these days among dentists.
Some dentists feel that silver fillings are hazarders to ones health. They believe that silver fillings are made of metals that are unhealthy to your body and should be replaced. Some dentists believe that Silver fillings also known as amalgam fillings do more harm that good for your teeth. Amalgam fillings contain about 50% mercury, 35% silver, 13% tin and 2% copper. Some dentist's feel that the mercury that is contained in these are is causing illnesses in people and they are telling you to get these replaced. Other dentists believe that silver fillings do not fit well in your teeth. Over time silver fillings expand causing cracks and fracture in your teeth. Silver fillings over time also leak mercury causing the filling to turn from silver to black. Some dentists consider this hazard's because the mercury is leaking out. Silver fillings were made before the days that people tested products before using them. This is why silver fillings are believed to be hazards because they were not tested before hand. Silver fillings after they crack are not as sufficient because tooth decay can get underneath the filling and cause problems with out you even knowing anything is wrong. Silver fillings also are very strong themselves but as far as your teeth are concerned they are very weak after having silver fillings put in. Silver fillings are usually less expensive. Silver fillings do not take any special training on the dentist part to out in. Silver fillings are also very sensitive to hot and cold and certain tings you eat. Silver fillings can send a zing through your mouth when you least expect it.
White fillings on the other hand are very well talked about. White fillings also known as porcelain fillings adhere to your teeth better and fit your teeth better. This helps to make sure that the white fillings stay in place and do not crack. Having white fillings not crack causes there to be no way for tooth decay to get underneath the white filling. White fillings also restore most of the original strength to teeth. White teeth also bring back the look of natural teeth before they had cavities. White fillings can become weaker though. Too much alcohol consumption can weaken the white fillings. If you drink very heavily you will find that white fillings will deteriorate prematurely.
Whether you decide to go with white are silver feelings there are both pros and cons to both. It is just deciding which you think is better in your mind. If you are still undecided about what fillings you want to go with either silver or white contact your dentist. You dentist can help you decide which ones and give you in detail facts about both what and silver fillings. Your dentist also might lean one way more than the other depending on what studies he or she has read and what they have had experience in the past with. So make sure to do a lot of research and then go and discuss with your dentist, which one they think would be best white fillings or silver fillings. Some dentist might go with silver just for the fact that they don't have the special training needed to do white fillings. So make sure to ask your dentist appropriate questions to get a feel for what they think are best.
With the advances in today's technology dental work is getting better and better. It used to be the only way to fill in a cavity was with silver fillings, but today we now have more options than ever. Many people are concerned that if they have to have fillings to correct tooth decay they want them to look as natural as possible. Silver fillings are no longer the norm. People are self-conscious about smiling with a mouth that might glitter in the sunlight, with white composite fillings people can smile easier and not worry about how their mouth looks.
If you need to have fillings your dentist should inform you of the fact that you have a choice of white composite fillings or silver amalgam fillings. If they fail to do this they are not performing their legal duty.
Following are five reasons you should get white composite fillings instead of silver amalgam fillings.
Reason one:
They bond to the tooth. Since white composite fillings are bonded to the tooth they actually restore majority of the original tooth's strength. This will help prevent your teeth from breaking in the future. When you have a cavity the dentist has to drill out the damaged part of the tooth, which tends to weaken the tooth. Silver fillings actually further weaken the tooth, which increases your chances of breaking the tooth later in life. Broken teeth can cost a lot of money to fix, so nobody wants to increase their chances of breaking a tooth. White composite fillings can actually help save you money in the long run.
Reason two:
White composite fillings restore your natural look. Your teeth are naturally white so why not keep them looking that way. People who use white composite fillings have more confidence in their smile because there is no way to tell that they have had teeth filled. This added confidence can make them more comfortable in social and business settings because by using white fillings instead of silver they are improving their appearance.
Reason three:
If your white composite fillings are done correctly your teeth will not be as sensitive to hot and cold. For people with sensitive teeth already this can be an added benefit. Because silver is a metal extreme temperatures directly affect the metal causing you to wince in pain if you bite into a frozen treat or taking a sip of something hot to drink. Nobody wants to experience that kind of pain, eating should be as painless as possible, you should be able to enjoy a hot drink on a cold day or a frozen treat on a hot day
Reason four:
White composite fillings are not made with mercury. Some people view mercury as being toxic, which if you think about it is. In the older days mercury was used in a variety of health care tools, such as thermometers, but in today's world you do not see the use of mercury thermometers, unless your parents or grandparents happen to have one. Mercury is being phased out because of how dangerous it can be.
Reason five:
White composite fillings require less removal of the tooth structure. If you are having your old fillings replaced with white composite fillings this will not matter since the structure has already been removed, but it makes a huge amount of difference in new cavities. The smaller amount of tooth that has to be removed is vital in keeping your teeth stronger. By removing a large amount of the tooth the dentist is weakening that tooth which can lead to broken teeth. See reason one for more information on broken teeth.
Sometimes fillings fall out and there is nothing we can do to prevent it. At least if a filling falls out we can know how to be better prepared ourselves and know what to do about the filing falling out.
When a filling falls out you do not want to stick the filling back in. You want to keep the filling if you can. The dentist can sometimes determine why a filling has fallen out by looking at it. Sometimes a dentist can stick in the old filling instead of having to do a whole new filling. You may get a toothache soon after the filling falls out. The toothache might be cause from a crack in the tooth (that may be the reason for the filling falling out), or getting debris in the hole where the filling has fallen out. You will want to softly brush and floss your teeth to make sure there is no other debris.
If you get a toothache after a filling falls out, try taking an over the counter pain reliever to help with the pain. You can also try to dip a q-tip in oil cloves and rub it on the tooth to help. Oil cloves are supposed to be a natural sedative for the nerve of your tooth. You can also use a temporary dental cement to cover the tooth area and protect the surface from debris and air getting down to the nerve and causing tooth decay and or tooth ache.
Next you will want to take a temporary object such as floss to cover the hole where the filling fell out. You can do this by rubbing the floss between your thumb and your pointer finger and making the floss soft. Then roll it in a ball and then apply to hole to make a protective barrier from debris and air from the nerve that might cause a toothache.
If your tooth is ok and there is not any further damage such as tooth decay. Your dentist will probably just have to go in and clean the area making sure everything looks ok. There is usually some tooth decay around the area where the filing has fallen out. In this case the dentist would go in and clean around that area and replace the filling that has fallen out with a new filling or decide what the best way to fix the tooth will be. If you wait to get the filling that has fallen out replaced it might have to have more extensive work done such as a root canal. So, if your filling falls out or has already fallen out get into see the doctor before you cause yourself and your wallet more headache and money then you have too.
You will want to call the dentist as soon as possible after a filling has fallen out and get the soonest available appointment. There are things that you can do to help with the pain but not getting a filling that has fallen out replaced will make you have more problems. You could have problems such as tooth decay or a severe toothache; you could even get an infection. If you wait to long it will become more expensive that if you would have just gone in and got your filling that had fallen out put back in or replaced. It is very important so I will say it again call your dentist and get an appointment as soon as possible after a filling has fallen out.
Since our teeth play such an important role in our appearance it is beneficial for us to know about the different types of fillings offered. Silver amalgam fillings are the traditional fillings that dentists offer and they are silver in color so they are noticeable. White composite fillings are white in color so they match our teeth's natural color. So before deciding on what types of filling you want take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of silver amalgam fillings.
Advantages:
Less expensive. White composite fillings take about sixty percent longer to put in correctly. They require special expertise, more expensive materials, and are harder to place. All of this goes into the cost of the filling, so silver ends up being more cost efficient. Most insurance companies will not cover the extra cost of white composite fillings so you end up paying more out of pocket.
Dentists do not need extra training to place silver fillings. Composite fillings use a special bonding technique that requires extra training, so dentists who have not had this training do not feel comfortable in placing those types of fillings. Silver fillings, due to the long time use, are taught in your basic dentistry courses, so your older dentists already know how to place them.
Silver amalgam fillings do not require isolation of the tooth. When using white composite fillings your tooth needs to be totally isolated from any salvia to ensure that it is properly placed. If you are getting a filling in the back of your mouth this can be hard to accomplish, and can also be extremely uncomfortable.
Silver amalgam fillings are a stronger material than white composite fillings.
Because silver amalgam fillings have been around longer some people feel that they have been thoroughly tested and tried. Some people are more comfortable with the old ways and resist changes, even if the newer methods prove to be better than the older methods.
Silver fillings can withstand a variety of diets. White composites can deteriorate prematurely depending on your diet. Excessive alcohol consumption, such as a glass of whiskey once a day, can weaken the white composite fillings.
Disadvantages:
Silver actually weakens the teeth, which increases your chances of breaking your teeth. White composite fillings actually help to restore the tooth's original strength since they bond to the tooth. While you can save money immediately by using silver fillings, if your teeth break you can end up spending more money in the long run.
Silver amalgam fillings do not restore your natural look. These fillings are silver in color, thus making the filling more noticeable. White composite fillings are made to match the color of your teeth.
Although they are called silver fillings by dentists, these fillings actually contain more mercury than silver. Many people view mercury as toxic, which if you think about it is true. White composite fillings are mercury-free.
Silver amalgam fillings require more removal of the tooth structure which weakens your tooth and can lead to early breaking of your teeth. White composite fillings require a smaller hole which helps to keep your tooth's original strength.
While both types of fillings have their advantages and disadvantages you might want to think about your current lifestyle before you make a final decision. You might also wish to consult with your dentist about your options. Your dentist knows your family history so they can help you make the decision that is right for you.
The benefits of replacing old fillings might be better than you thought. Some people might think it is not a big deal to keep the fillings that they have had in their teeth for years. But dentist seem to differ on that subject.
Dentist believe that some old fillings such as the amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings are the silver fillings dentists use to use before the porcelain fillings came around. The amalgam fillings contain about 50% mercury, 35% silver, 13% tin and 2% copper. Some dentists believe that this type of filling is not only bad for your health it is also doing serious structure damage to your teeth. The sooner you get those replaced the better. Amalgam fillings cause fractures in your teeth by the stress that is put on the old fillings. This can be very costly to fix. So if you can avoid having to have a fracture fix and just have the cost of the replacement of the filling before it fractures. I would opt to have the filling replaced as soon as possible. The Amalgam does not keep the shape of your teeth that is why it cracks and causes fractures.
Another benefit of replacing old fillings is that the new porcelain fillings are less visible. So you don't even know they are there. The other benefit from replacing old fillings is that the dentist will go in and make sure that the cavities hasn't gotten and bigger take out the old filling and stick in a new one. Some of the old amalgam fillings have been found to cause tooth damage down to the bone. So having your cavities checked when having the new filling stuck in is a good thing. Because some time dentists will have to go in under the tooth and get the tooth decay cleaned out that might have grown around the amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings after cracking can not be as beneficial as they were before this causing a cavity to start forming underneath the amalgam filling. So getting a new filling will help detect if this has happened or not.
Amalgam fillings over time leak and the filling might turn black. This can be an embarrassment to people and it might be a benefit to get the filling replaced just for the sake of not being embarrassed any more.
Another benefit of replacing your old fillings is the sensitivity. With amalgam fillings you can have a lot of sensitivity depending on what you are eating or chewing on. By getting the amalgam replaced you will not long have to deal with the sensitivity that comes along with amalgam.
The other benefit to replacing old fillings is you get the hazards out of your mouth. At the time safety tests were not preformed on the metal fillings that were put in peoples mouths. Thanks to technology we now have the capability to see what the exact out come is when we use certain materials such as amalgam fillings in our mouths. Some people believe that amalgam has caused health problems in people. If you think that you might be one of those people contact your doctor. If you just want to get your fillings replaced call and consult with your dentist. The dentist can tell you what the right thing to do would be and how to go about doing it. Your dentist will be able to tell you what kind of filling are right for you and your teeth.
