Esthetic Restorations

The most common type of dental restoration is called a “ filling”.  A filling is used to repair a cavity in the tooth where bacteria-produced acids have dissolved the mineral enamel in one or more spots.  The purpose of the filling is to fill the hole so those acids don’t reach the softer dentin of the tooth.

There are two basic types of material used in repairing the damage left by cavities – Composite or tooth-colored restorations and traditional Amalgam or silver restorations.

Composite

The development of composite material for tooth restoration has been a revolution in dental care.  With composite materials cavities can be repaired making the tooth look natural.

Composite or tooth-colored fillings are durable fillings for small to medium-sized cavities.  Less of the tooth structure is removed in placing composite fillings than traditional amalgam or “silver” fillings so the natural strength of the tooth combines with the filling to give a long lasting restoration.

In cases where large restorations need to be made, especially on molars where high chewing pressure is experienced, other restoration methods or materials may be suggested.

At Harrison Dental we are committed to helping our patients enjoy a healthy, natural-looking smile.  Restorations made with composite materials help retain the natural look of your teeth and smile,

Amalgam

Used by dentists for over a century, dental amalgam is the silver filling most people are familiar with.  It is the most thoroughly tested and researched material in use.  It is durable, easy to use, and very resistant to wear.

Amalgam is made up of several metals, including mercury, silver, tin and copper.  Over the past few years some concern has been raised because of the mercury content in amalgam.  However, the mercury in amalgam combines with the other metals which makes it stable and safe for use in filling teeth.  Amalgam is also relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials.

Because of its strength, amalgam is particularly useful for restoring molars in the back of the mouth where the chewing pressure is greatest.

The down side to amalgam is that a little more of the tooth structure needs to be removed to properly place amalgam, although it is a stronger material.  Also, its obvious silver color is not as natural-looking as tooth-colored materials, especially when placed near the front of the mouth.

Our object at Harrison Dental is to let you and all our patients enjoy the benefits of a healthy, beautiful, natural-looking smile.  We will share the treatment options available so you can enjoy optimum dental health, unlocking “the power of your smile”.