Porcelain Fillings? It’s more than a “Looks” Thing.

0

Porcelain Fillings? It’s more than a “Looks” Thing.

Published by Eric Wiitala DDS at
Categories
Tags

porcelain fillingsIf you are an adult who had a cavity in your youth, there is a good chance that you have a silver filling in your mouth. The way that cavities are treated hasn’t changed much in the past 150 years, really, at least not until recently. In the past few decades, more dentists and their patients are waking up to the fact that repairing teeth with silver fillings, aka dental amalgam, is, well, a rather outdated concept. Patients of our Scottsdale dental practice have a better choice, porcelain fillings.

The obvious reason why a cosmetic dentist would recommend porcelain fillings is that this material looks more like natural enamel than any other material currently available in dentistry. This is not all, though. There are additional advantages to the whole tooth-colored filling trend:

  • Porcelain fillings are bonded into the tooth after damaged enamel has been removed. This technique immediately hardens the material against the tooth. Amalgam takes hours to fully harden.
  • The bonding technique also facilitates our goal for conservative care. An amalgam filling is held in the tooth by the tooth. This requires specific shaping for retention. Using the direct application of porcelain, we are able to remove the bare minimum of natural structure, preserving the integrity of the tooth.
  • Bonding naturally achieves strong margins, or borders, between the filling and the tooth. This prevents bacteria from entering into hidden spaces. Over time amalgam changes shape within the tooth, creating the risk for further damage.
  • Historically, porcelain has been viewed as a rather delicate type of ceramic. Dental porcelain is anything but delicate. This material is durable enough for use on front or back teeth, and can sustain chewing and biting for years.

There are advantages to having more options for dental restoration today. At the same time, the extra choices could make it somewhat difficult to discern the approach that is best for you. When you visit our team, we provide you with the information you need to understand the benefits of each choice.

We are here to partner with you for a lifetime of oral health. Call  (480) 657-6981.