Simple fillings to repair decayed or damaged teeth fall into two general categories: composite and amalgam.
Composite restorations are a mixture of “space age” plastics and tooth colored “fillers” that give the material its strength and esthetics. Composite materials come in a variety of tints that allow us to accurately match the color of your natural teeth. The material is bonded to tooth structure creating an adhesive seal. These materials have been around for nearly 40 years and have revolutionized the way we repair damage to teeth caused by decay and fracture. The esthetic advantages composite restorations have over amalgam make them a very desirable option. They are quite durable and the bonded seal to the tooth helps reduce “leakage” and new decay. The bonus is a beautiful improvement to your smile!
Amalgam is a mixture of tiny particles of silver alloy held together by mercury. This material has been around for well over a century. It has come under fire over the years because of its mercury content. Exhaustive and repeated studies by independent researchers, dental schools and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have deemed the material safe. The mercury is essentially “locked” into the fabric of the filling and any potential release has proven too small to measure accurately. As better materials are developed and prevention becomes more practiced, amalgam is likely to become part of dental history. For the present, it remains a durable, economic alternative when restoring decayed teeth.
While both materials have their place, nothing replaces the strength and beauty of natural tooth structure. For this reason, our primary and continual focus will be aimed toward prevention.