What filling materials are available today?
This is one of the questions I hear every day in my office. There is a wide variety of filling material available to all patients today. The one that is used regularly is called Amalgam but patients often call it silver filling. This material has served as excellent filling material for a long time and it is well documented in scientific journals. It is still the material of choice for
back teeth. Patients ask if the mercury in this material is a health hazard. I have reviewed a lot of research and evidence but there is no proof of health hazards with this material. In fact, dentists and their assistants generally have a higher exposure to mercury but they have a greater life expectancy and die from the same diseases as other folks do. Unless new and compelling evidence is presented to the contrary, dentists will continue to inform patients that this material is available and safe.
Other filling material available for patients to choose from include:
1) Composite which patients call a white filling,
2) Ceramics, which is also white but stronger than Composite and lasts longer and finally
3) Gold.
Discuss the factors that should be considered by your dentist in choosing the filling material you should have for your teeth and budget.
back teeth. Patients ask if the mercury in this material is a health hazard. I have reviewed a lot of research and evidence but there is no proof of health hazards with this material. In fact, dentists and their assistants generally have a higher exposure to mercury but they have a greater life expectancy and die from the same diseases as other folks do. Unless new and compelling evidence is presented to the contrary, dentists will continue to inform patients that this material is available and safe.
Other filling material available for patients to choose from include:
1) Composite which patients call a white filling,
2) Ceramics, which is also white but stronger than Composite and lasts longer and finally
3) Gold.
Discuss the factors that should be considered by your dentist in choosing the filling material you should have for your teeth and budget.