Fillings

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Metal Free or Tooth Coloured Fillings?

Dental Decay or Caries forms cavities in teeth and is the most common dental problem which affects us all. Cavities start on the outside of the teeth and if left unattended grow and spread within the teeth. They weaken the teeth and can infect the tooth if left unchecked. To arrest the progress of the cavity it is advisable to remove the decay at the early stages itself and fill the cavity with a filling material.

Why Metal Free Fillings?

In the past Silver Amalgam fillings were used to fill the cavities. These fillings contain mercury and that has made them very controversial. There is considerable debate about the potential toxicity of the mercury present in silver fillings and its effect on the general health and system of the patient. Although there is no conclusive evidence on this issue, we at Mistry Centre for Advanced Dentistry do not use Mercury containing products in our offices.

Tooth Colored Fillings ?

All fillings done at our Centre are done using mercury free tooth colored materials. Our fillings options are Composite Fillings, or Inlays or Onlays. The type of filling or restoration depends on the size of the cavity and how early we manage to catch it.

Composite Fillings

When we see cavities in their early stages, they are usually small and have not damaged a lot of the tooth. In such cases we would be very conservative, and our goal would be to preserve as much of the healthy tooth as possible. For this we would choose to do a composite filling, which is shaped and bonded directly in the mouth.

It adheres to your tooth and so requires only the decayed and diseased part of the tooth to be removed. This makes it more durable and aesthetic and creates a very natural looking result.

Dental Inlays and Onlays

When cavities grow and involve large parts of the tooth, we need to use treatments and materials which will be strong enough to replace the decayed tooth as well as protect and strengthen the remaining tooth.

Dental Inlays and Onlays are restorations we use for large cavities.

An inlay is placed within the tooth surface, ie between the cusps. It does not extend beyond the edges of the tooth. While an onlay on the other hand replaces a part of the edges or cusps of the teeth.

Inlays and Onlay are made indirectly outside of the mouth. They can be fabricated from either Composite or ceramic materials and they blend seamlessly into the teeth. They and are shaped and sized to replicate the part of the tooth they are replacing. Since they are bonded in place, they do not require a lot of removal of enamel and this enable us to protect and strengthen the tooth further.

Should I get my Silver Fillings replaced?

As silver fillings age, they expand and cause stresses in the teeth which result in small cracks which are not visible. However, over time and as you continue to use your teeth to chew, these cracks spread and grow within the teeth. This happens slowly and gradually, and you may not notice or feel any symptoms at the start. However, if left unchecked the tooth crack could spread deep enough to start creating sensitivity in the tooth and eventually cause the tooth to break.

So to answer the question, yes you should get your silver fillings replaced unless they are very small.