by Dan Mannikko, DDS |
Amalgam, the metal mixture of copper, tin and mercury that many of us grew up having for our tooth fillings, can quickly and easily damage your teeth in the plaque, saliva and blood-rich environment called the human mouth. For example, most of us know that metals, in the presence of water, can corrode and break down. Metals also expand and contract with temperature changes, resulting in cracked teeth, and they can leak, causing further decay. This process significantly breaks down your teeth, leading to fractures, root canals, tooth loss, and pain. What is more important, exposure to some of these metals, such as mercury, can have far-reaching negative health effects, so much so that when a conscientious dentist needs to remove damaged amalgam they use a dental-dam apparatus and strong suction to carry away these metals and protect the patient from these unnecessary contaminants.
What is the solution? Today, as a patient, you clearly have a choice. You can ask if your dentist practices “adhesive dentistry,” or the dental procedures and techniques that use porcelain veneers or dentine-bonded crowns, rather than metal fillings, to repair the teeth. In adhesive dentistry, a tooth-colored composite material is used to repair chipped, cracked, fractured, worn, or broken teeth — even “off-color” teeth that have lost their enamel and appear a shade or two darker than their neighboring teeth.
Adhesion, or the ability to adhere materials to tooth structure, has been studied extensively for over 50 years, and the science has advanced tremendously over the last decade, allowing treatment to be much more conservative and aesthetically pleasing.
Studies show that approximately 40 percent of all teeth show signs of cracks and fractures that are often asymptomatic, meaning that the patient does not realize he or she has a problem. All too often, these teeth are ground down unnecessarily, when adhesive dentistry options exist to not only repair the broken-down tooth but to strengthen and reconstruct it to original strength.
Adhesive dentistry has several benefits, including functionality, aesthetic value, minimal invasion, tooth reinforcement, longevity (10-20+ years), and biocompatibility, which no other reconstructive process offers. If you or your child needs a metal dental filling replaced or repaired, ask your dentist about modern adhesive dentistry. Your smile and your health will both be better off.
References:
- Molar Fracture Resistance after Adhesive Restoration with Ceramic Inlays or Resin- Based Composites; Bremer BD, Geurtsen W, Am J Dent 2001; 14:216-220
- Fracture resistance of teeth directly and indirectly restored with composite resin and Indirectly restored with ceramic materials, Dalpino P, Francischone C, Ishikiriama A, Franco E, AmJ Dent 2002; 15:389-394
- A Prospective Clinical Study of Indirect and Direct Composite and Ceramic Inlays: Ten year results, Thordrup M, Isidor F, Horsted-Bindslev p, Quint. Int’l, 2006; 37: 139-144
- Academy of Cosmetic and Adhesive Dentistry. Cosmetic Dentistry; Composite Fillings. www.acadorg.com/Procedures_CompositeFillings_402551.aspx
- www.nature.com/vital/journal/v3/n4/full/vital513.html
- www.carteryokoyamadds.com/html/info.html
For more info, contact Dan Mannikko, DDS at (775) 825-8366.
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