Composite vs Amalgam Fillings

Silver or White? It is a Choice!

Even with care, treatment and regular cleaning, teeth can develop cavities or become fractured. As long as they are used, teeth are vulnerable to stains and decay. When patients need help with decay, dentists use the time-honored method of filling the teeth.

The question that dentists face with their patients is whether to go with the traditional method of filling — known as amalgams — or the newer method called composites. The differences are material and color. Amalgams are a metal made of a silver-tin alloy, copper and mercury. Composites are a composite resin designed to roughly match the natural color of teeth.

Silver or White?

Though metal amalgams have been used historically around the world, fear began to spread about the material in the latter part of the 20th Century. Awareness of the dangers of mercury have made that metal and the harm it causes top of mind for many. And with the knowledge that mercury was a component of amalgams, a negative association was natural. Research has shown these fears to be unfounded, for while mercury on its own can be toxic, when it bonds with other materials in an amalgam, it is neutralized and is harmless. Studies about the release of mercury from normal wear of chewing and grinding show that five fillings release about the same amount of mercury as is found in a tuna sandwich.

There is also the cost factor. Amalgams can cost up to 25 % less than composites. They also may last longer, depending on a variety of factors.

Amalgams

The main argument against the use of silver fillings is aesthetic. Depending on where the tooth is located, the appearance of an amalgam filling may be less attractive than a more natural-looking composite filling. Also, for some patients the feeling of metal in the mouth may be displeasing. Over time, like most metals, silver fillings will eventually corrode and even leak causing decay to reoccur underneath the fillings. There is also a slow expansion that amalgam undergoes and the part of the tooth next to the filling may fracture over time, necessitating a much larger filling, a crown or even extraction of the tooth, if the fracture runs vertically down the root below the bone.

Composites

Composite fillings are primarily a resin which has been “filled” with other inorganic materials. This compound makes a composite filling more resistant to wear, helps it be color adjustable, and makes it easier to polish.

The advantages of choosing a composite filling include a more natural appearance, frequently a strengthening of the filled tooth, and a bonding of the filling to the tooth creating a better seal. The disadvantages are that composite fillings themselves are weaker and may last a shorter period than an amalgam filling. In addition, a composite filling may cost about 25% more than amalgam.

Composites can develop what is called dissolution. They dissolve slowly over time regardless of whether you eat on them directly. They also can discolor over time, acquiring a yellowish tinge, and may become pitted, leaving pinholes on the surface, which may pick up stains.

You Make The Call

Ultimately, you should work with your dentist to make the decision that’s right for you. Dr. Andrew Achord of Achord Family Dentistry helps his patients make these decisions on a daily basis. Dr. Achord says it’s important to consider the facts and realize that neither solution is right for everyone. The facts for each individual will point to the right solution for that person’s situation.

To help prevent cavities and other dental related diseases and conditions, put your dental plan into place at Achord Family Dentistry located at 290 Lakeland Drive Suite C in Flowood, Mississippi. Dr. Andrew Achord also holds a degree in immunopathology. His areas of focus include restorative dental care, diseases of the mouth and their effects on the rest of the body, and dental treatment for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

You can also visit www.achorddentistry.com or call (601) 664-0492 to schedule an appointment.