White tooth fillings to replace silver fillings
 Many people
in the Seattle area have had silver fillings placed into their teeth because they had "cavities".
These silver
fillings are called amalgams and are actually an alloy comprised of
silver, mercury and other metals. There is an ongoing controversy
with regard to this material. More than 20 years ago, we decided not
to place this material. In Seattle and other cities, this material,
when it is removed from a person, is now considered “hazardous
waste” and must be treated as such.
Additionally, this
material presents other problems. Generally it is not bonded (there
is no chemical connection between the material and the tooth) but is
only mechanically retained. This requires a preparation design that
undercuts the remaining tooth structure and hence weakens it. Over
time, leakage around the filling occurs and decay ensues. Also,
amalgam restorations, because of the preparation design required and
the nature of the material contribute to fractures on the tooth.
If these are not enough reasons to avoid this
material, here’s another! The restorations are ugly. As the material
corrodes, it turns dark, sometimes nearly black. Many times the
remaining tooth structure is stained by the material. Almost always
there is a gray shadowing of the remaining tooth. This is easily
seen as soon as a patient opens his or her mouth and is usually a
source of embarrassment for the patient.
Dr. Faber places
composite and ceramic restorations instead of amalgam. The specific
choice depends on the situation. When the decay or defect is small
and includes only a certain portion of the tooth, a composite
filling can be placed. These are tooth colored and are characterized
to look just like an unrestored tooth and they are bonded to the
tooth for a tight seal. No one will know you have a filling!Please don't hesitate to call Brian Faber DDS MAGD PS at (206) 522-7568 with any questions you may have about the benefits of
replacing silver amalgam fillings with invisible composite fillings.
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