Obsolete: “No longer produced or used: out of date.”
Most people would agree that your smile is one of the first things other people notice about you. It is the way we connect and share ourselves with others, and the appearance of our smile affects our confidence. At Oppenheim Signature Smiles, we avoid placing metal and amalgam fillings to fix cavities. We choose to use only tooth colored materials that blend perfectly with your natural teeth.
Through advanced technologies of dental adhesion, state-of-the-art ceramics and resins, the latest bonded restorations are actually close to rivaling nature in durability, wear, performance and appearance. Using these innovative materials, it is possible to bond your teeth back together, essentially restoring them to their original toughness, but without the invasiveness of complete-coverage crowns. In most instances, metal fillings can be replaced with approaches that are known to be a better solution to mercury/silver amalgam fillings. It is, as a result, a possibility to maintain the healthy, leftover tooth structure, rather than grinding it down for a crown.
Everything wears away, and your silver fillings are no exception. They withstand tense and significant biting forces daily, and as they age, they break, leak and may also result in damaging fractures in the teeth. With time, metal amalgam fillings can actually absorb water, causing them to swell and break away from the tooth. At this point, your tooth is more prone to decay and sensitivity.
Mercury/Silver fillings share some other noted drawbacks that should be thought of when it is time to replace your restorations:
Given the laundry list of negative effects associated, and potentially associated, with silver/mercury amalgam fillings, it becomes clear why patients are asking Dr. Oppenheim to be PROACTIVE about replacement of mercury fillings rather than being REACTIVE, and electing to schedule treatment when the tooth fractures or hurts. For tooth damage that requires more than a filling, we also offer restorative options including porcelain crowns and dental onlays.
Oppenheim Signature Smiles,
Cosmetic, Restorative,
& General Dentistry
207 East Jackson St.
Thomasville, GA 31792
Phone: (229) 226-1631
Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday
8am-5pm