Should I Replace My Old Silver Fillings?

Posted by Nicole

Cavities aren’t something anyone wants, but unfortunately, they are common. About 92% of Americans between 20 and 64 years old have tooth decay that has resulted in at least one.

If you have an older cavity, it is likely silver in color. That’s the way we used to do things, with amalgam fillings. Amalgam was introduced to the dental community around 1830 and is a thick paste made up of some metals including silver and mercury. It was used as the material of choice for fillings because it was affordable and lasted a long time.

As technology has progressed over the years, it is more common for dentists to use composites for fillings. In fact, Dr. Goebel hasn’t used amalgam fillings since he left dental school. These fillings are white in color, which is much more cosmetically pleasing, but also, the bonding technology helps strengthen the tooth.

The American Dental Association maintains that amalgam fillings are perfectly safe, but many patients would prefer to not have them anymore.

The benefits of composite fillings include:
• They bond directly to the tooth making it stronger.
• Much less tooth structure is removed to restore a cavity.
• Less sensitivity. Metal conducts hot and cold. Alternatively, composites insulate the tooth.
• The tooth appears more natural looking.

Should existing amalgam fillings be replaced with composite fillings?
Teeth go through a lot of wear and tear daily. The same is true for amalgam fillings. It’s possible that, over time, older fillings can begin to separate from the enamel surrounding them. This is a gradual process, but it can allow for bacteria and food particles to slip in, leading to further decay or even infection. Your dentist will check this during your routine bi-annual exam; however, you should be mindful of this as well.

The choice is yours, and we’re here to help.
Even if your old amalgam fillings are still intact and doing their job properly, you may choose to have them replaced with composite fillings for cosmetic reasons, because you don’t want to have mercury in your body, or you want to strengthen the teeth. All are valid reasons we hear from patients. If you would like to replace your old amalgam fillings with composite fillings, please discuss with us to see if this option may be right for you.