Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Replacing Silver Fillings With Tooth-Colored Composites
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - Advances in dental materials and techniques over the past few decades have given cosmetic dentists the ability to create beautiful, healthy, natural-looking smiles for their patients.
There are several materials to choose from when repairing missing, worn, damaged or decayed teeth. The mainstays of filling materials remain, such as gold, porcelain and dental amalgam, but Dr. Khalil “Dr. Sage” Saghezchi uses composite resin fillings to reinforce tooth structure, replace worn, loose or leaking silver fillings, and restore the patient’s natural-looking smile.
“A composite filling can be matched to whatever shade of white the teeth are, so it blends in and looks like you never had a cavity filled,” says Dr. Saghezchi, a Santa Clara dental specialist of cosmetic dentistry.
Composite resin is a tooth-colored material made from plastic or glass and is used to fill a cavity or replace silver fillings. Unlike silver fillings, composite bonds to the tooth surface to reinforce the tooth structure and strengthen the tooth. They are placed in one visit and when done properly, can last five to 10 years. The natural-color composite is frequently used for teeth in the smile zone- the teeth that show when a person smiles- and for a smile makeover, a combination of cosmetic procedures to create a new smile.
Some patients come to Dr. Saghezchi to replace their silver fillings because they do not like the way they look. Others want the procedure because silver fillings have worn out, loosened or started leaking, which makes the tooth appear gray and unappealing.
“Amalgam fillings can gradually absorb moisture, causing them to swell and break away from the tooth,” says Dr. Saghezchi a Santa Clara dentist. “When this happens, the tooth is no longer sealed and protected from decay, allowing cavities to form underneath the filling.”
Advantages Of Replacing Silver With Tooth-Colored Fillings
- Strength: composite fillings bond to the tooth’s surface, unlike silver ones, and restore most of the original strength of the tooth.
- Aesthetics: tooth-colored fillings recreate the natural appearance of the tooth.
- No Sensitivity: when correct techniques are used, teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with other types of material.
- Mercury-free: while there is debate about whether mercury in fillings causes a problem, some people choose composite fillings to avoid the chance of exposure to something toxic.
- Structure Saving: composites require much less removal of healthy tooth structure, particularly when it is a new cavity instead of a replacement.
- Versatile: besides using composite material as a filler for decay, tooth-colored fillings can also be used to repair chipped, broken or worn teeth.
“Composite fillings require specialized education, more time and newer technology to do them correctly, so ask for recommendations, read reviews and check before and after pictures before choosing a dental provider,” says Dr. Saghezchi, who is one of 300 worldwide accredited members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Costs And Insurance Coverage Of Tooth-Colored Fillings
The cost of composite fillings varies by the location and the number of surfaces being filled, as well as the city where the patient lives. The typical range is $100 to $300.
Replacing amalgam fillings with tooth-colored composites might not be considered medically necessary by the patient’s insurance company unless, for example, the old filling has loosened or the cavity has continued to widen around the spot filled. Otherwise, the procedure would be considered a cosmetic procedure.
According to Dr. Saghezchi, a dental implants specialist, when replacement is deemed necessary, most dental insurance plans cover the cost of the composites up to the price of the silver filling, and require that the patient pay the difference out-of-pocket if they want the tooth-colored option.
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