Do You Still Have Silver Colored Fillings in Your Mouth?
December 21st, 2011 by wordpress
If you’re over 30 years old, chances are you have had at least one “silver” filling in your life. And anytime you laugh, smile or open wide to take a big bite of something, you reveal those fillings to the world. They’re unattractive, they’re probably going to come loose (nothing is more annoying than losing a silver filling) and, according to many dentists, they’re really not that good for you.
You see, those silver fillings get their color from mercury. While the verdict is still out about the effects mercury fillings may be having on your health, today’s dentists agree that it’s probably better to have them replaced with safer, more natural looking material.
The new, white filling material is less obvious in your mouth. It can be tinted to match the color of your natural teeth. Plus, the new filling material is more durable, and works better with your teeth as they age. It fuses better to the surrounding teeth than the mercury-based material can, so it’s less likely to ever come out, regardless of what you eat.
Even teeth with larger fillings can be treated with porcelain dental inlays or onlays that resemble your actual teeth and match your mouth’s current biting surface.
If replacing your silver fillings reveals a tooth that is on the verge of breaking, your dentist will talk to you about placing a porcelain dental crown. Crowns fit comfortably over the base of your tooth and provide the strength and beauty you expect. While no crown can be guaranteed to last a lifetime, most do. Brush and floss around the crown just as you would with your natural teeth.
Replacing your silver fillings with safer, better-looking white filler is a relatively simple operation for your dentist. Talk with your dentist about your options. Soon, you’ll have a smile that everybody will remember for its brightness, and not its obvious fillings.
