Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients today are requesting "white" or tooth-colored composite fillings. We recommend tooth-colored or white fillings because they "bond" to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. White fillings tend to be less sensitive to temperature, plus we think they look better.

Generally, yes. Aside from the unappealing appearance of silver fillings, they can cause teeth to fracture over time. As a general rule, if the filling is small it is better to use tooth-colored material called a composite. As fillings get bigger, inlays and onlays are needed. These types of restorations support your teeth through bonding. They also hold up to chewing pressure, don't leak, and look like your real teeth.

No, tooth colored fillings are our treatment of choice. Either direct filled composites or indirect inlays and crowns can be provided in almost all situations. However on occasion, if a silver filling is necessary, we use the safest material available.

The modern tooth colored filling materials consist of a resin which hold together finely ground quartz crystals. The resin can be tinted to get the filling close to the color of the tooth, and the quartz crystals will reflect the underlying natural color to obtain a very good match.

The white fillings look like your natural teeth. Most people now prefer these when possible. They are made of a composite material (plastic). Traditional silver fillings have worked very well for many years and still can today. They are made up of a mixture of different metals. On average a white filling will not last as long as a silver one. Recently, many new materials have come forth that have made the longevity of white fillings closer to silver ones.

There are three important factors with regard to filling materials. First, there is a striking cosmetic difference. Tooth-colored fillings are actually bonded or glued to the surrounding tooth, which minimizes stress on the tooth and often results in less risk of fracture or decay. Second, traditional silver fillings conversely can place stress or tension on a tooth - and this can substantially weaken the tooth itself. Many times, with silver fillings, a weakened tooth will fracture.

Amalgam fillings, sometimes referred to as ‘silver fillings’, are the most commonly placed filling material according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The material typically contains about 50% mercury Silver and mercury form a stable compound the ADA maintains is safe, as opposed to elemental mercury which is considered a toxic and hazardous material. Several European countries have totally banned the use of this compound for filling teeth.

Several types of tooth-colored restorations are available today. It is our opinion that silver would not be an option for filling material in our own mouths; therefore, we do not use it in our practice. The primary reason, aside from the unknown effects of silver in the body, is that when properly designed and placed, a tooth-colored restoration is a longer-term restoration than a silver filling.

Using present day techniques and materials, a properly done tooth colored filling (bonded composite) will wear almost as well as a silver filling. In addition, bonding to the remaining tooth, strengthens the tooth rather than weakening it. Newer composites, which require 2 appointments and are laboratory processed, are even more wear resistant. Almost all of the fillings that I do now are bonded composites.

Many people in the Ft Lauderdale area have had silver fillings placed into their teeth because they had cavities. These silver fillings are called amalgams. Amalgam fills the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed. However, over time, the amalgam corrodes and leaks which blackens the silver, and many times the 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.

Silver fillings are a combination of different metals (tin, copper, silver, zinc) and mercury and have been used for over 100 years. They are still the most durable material for back teeth. The tooth colored or composite fillings have gained favor for several reasons not the least of which is they look much nicer than the metal.

Silver fillings, also known as amalgam, are a type of filling that bonds mechanically to the tooth, meaning more tooth structure needs to be taken away to allow the filling to stay in place. Tooth colored fillings, also known as composite or resin, bond to the teeth and make the tooth stronger than the tooth would had it been filled with amalgam. Tooth colored fillings are highly recommended for smaller cavities, as they allow more tooth structure to be saved.

There is no real evidence that silver fillings are dangerous. When they wear out, they need to be replaced. When replaced, you can choose what kind of filling you want to have.

Due to important and technological advances such as ceramics and composite (tooth colored) fillings we rarely do silver amalgam fillings.