Mercury-Free Cavity Repair
At Laguna West Dental, we work hard to help you avoid dental damage. However, there are times when your teeth need restorative care, such as when they are injured or decayed. In our pursuit to provide the highest quality restorations, we never sacrifice your personal safety or your smile aesthetics. Our experienced dentists proudly offer composite fillings, a mercury-free option that matches the natural color of your teeth. Composite resin is considered the latest and most preferred filling material available. It can be used restoratively to fill a cavity or cosmetically to correct minor imperfections in your smile.
What is a Composite Resin?
When it comes to addressing your smile damage, modern dentistry offers safe, durable and natural-looking solutions. Composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture that bonds or chemically adheres to your natural tooth. Although bonding is susceptible to the normal wear and tear of chewing and temperature changes, it is a durable and effective method for restoring teeth. Composite resin can restore the shape and form of teeth after decay removal, when teeth have worn unevenly or when they need to match adjacent teeth. This is a simple and cost-effective way to restore teeth that do not require the strength and durability of a crown.
A Safer Alternative to Amalgam Fillings
While it is still a debated topic, we understand the concerns that many patients have regarding silver or mercury fillings, otherwise known as amalgam fillings. According to the FDA, “amalgam fillings may release small amounts of mercury in the form of a vapor (gas), depending on the number and age of existing fillings, and actions such as tooth grinding and gum chewing.” Those who are at high risk (pregnant women, children under six, nursing mothers, etc) should avoid amalgam fillings when getting cavity repair. The FDA also states that “although a direct correlation between mercury from amalgam and possible harmful health effects has not been established, there may be cumulative effects from exposure to mercury.”
Elk Grove Dentist Who Offers Metal-Free Fillings
Composite resin offers significant advantages over this past filling method, as it provides better aesthetics and improved safety. To learn more about composite tooth-colored fillings from a dentist in Elk Grove, please call Laguna West Dental today.