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5 Reasons Why You Should Get Tooth-Colored Fillings Instead of Metal Ones

October 04, 2019

Even if you brush your teeth every morning and night and floss regularly, you might still get a cavity from time to time. That means fillings. In the past, you may have gotten metal fillings to heal the decayed areas of your teeth. However, modern dental technology has come a long way, and many dentists these days use metal-free dental restorations to heal cavities. Let’s talk about 5 reasons why you should get your metal fillings replaced with tooth-colored fillings.

1. Avoid Mercury Exposure

Traditional amalgam fillings were made with a mixture of metals like silver, gold, tin, and even trace amounts of mercury. While the amount of mercury used was incredibly small, it still could cause issues with sensitive patients.

2. Blend in with Your Smile

Metal fillings stand out in your smile. Thanks to modern metal-free dental restorations like fillings and crowns, you no longer have to choose between treatment that heals your tooth and treatment that blends into your grin. Tooth-colored fillings can be custom-shaded to match the color of the surrounding enamel, so no one will be able to tell that you even had a cavity.

3. No Need for Drilling

Oftentimes, metal fillings call for drilling to make room for them, which can cause severe anxiety in patients. Metal-free fillings reduces that nervousness, resulting in a more pleasant office visit.

4. More Conservative Approach

Metal fillings require more natural tooth structure to be removed. Once enamel is gone from the tooth, it can’t be grown back, so it’s gone for good. That’s why you want your filling to take away as little enamel as possible. Tooth-colored fillings do just that. They remove only the bare minimum of enamel required to heal your tooth. Your natural teeth will remain stronger, ensuring that you keep them for decades to come.

5. Hypoallergenic

If you have an allergy or sensitivity to metal, no longer do you have to forgo the dental care you need due to that allergy. Tooth-colored fillings are made from composite resin, which is a mixture of plastic and glass. No metal is involved.

As you can see, nothing but good comes from opting for tooth-colored fillings instead of metal ones. The next time you hear the dreaded words, “You have a cavity,” know that you have nothing to worry about, thanks to tooth-colored fillings.

About the Practice

At Rowlett Dental Associates, our expert team of three dentists adores caring for patients of all ages. We offer metal-free fillings, crowns, bridges, and more. If you want more information, or if you would like to replace your metal filling with a tooth-colored alternative, you can visit our website or call (469) 299-8462.

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