For the most part, treating a cavity is a pretty straight-forward process. A cavity is a hole in your tooth that grows larger due to an infection, and restoring the tooth requires cleaning away infected portions of the tooth to stop the cavity’s progression. In most cases, cleaning the cavity is followed by filling the whole with a manmade material to reinforce the weakened tooth’s structure. In the past, that material was most often metal amalgam, a mixture of various traces metals that can easily withstand the pressures of biting and chewing. These days, however, amalgam fillings are quickly being replaced by innovative composite resin, which offers a wealth of benefits over its metal predecessor.
The Materials
Metal amalgam consists of liquid mercury combined with a powdered alloy of tin, copper, silver, and zinc. Introduced to the United States in the late 1800s, metal amalgam was a highly-effective and highly-affordable alternative to the gold restorations that were the norm. Today, tooth-colored composite resin, made from plastic and glass particles, offers an equally-durable filling that improves areas where metal amalgam lacks.
Aesthetics
If you have a metal filling, then you (and everyone else you encounter) can likely see its metallic shine whenever you open your mouth to speak, laugh, or smile. As metal, amalgam fillings contrast sharply with the subtle pearly-white structure of your tooth. As a tooth-colored material, white composite resin can be tinted to the exact shade of your tooth, blending in with your smile rather than shining conspicuously against it.
Functionality
Most metals possess an important characteristic that can’t be avoided by mixing them together—the penchant for contracting and expanding in cold and hot temperatures. As a dental filling, this trait can harm your tooth in several ways. A contracted filling may leave room between the metal and your tooth for bacteria to slip past and infect your tooth’s interior. If the filling expands, it can crack or break your inflexible tooth structure. By contrast, resin doesn’t change shape, and it can be bonded to your tooth’s structure for more effective protection against future infection.
About Downey Family & Cosmetic Dentistry:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health and function and help them enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
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