Mercury-Free Fillings
For hundreds of years, various metals have been used to restore damaged teeth. No other materials compared to the strength and durability of metals. But metals like gold that worked best were expensive. So people developed amalgam fillings, which used a mixture of cheaper metals, bound together by mercury. This created a paste that dentists could jam into a cavity.
At Smile On Dental Studio in St. Louis, we are highly committed to restoring teeth with only metal-free options as often as possible. We believe it’s important to eliminate the use of amalgam to make dentistry healthier for the patient and for the dentist. Although amalgam has been used in dentistry for years, it actually contains mercury. Although most studies conclude that amalgam fillings are safe to use, there still remain some concerns about the mercury content.
Healthier alternatives to amalgam include life-life and durable porcelains. These can be used in dental fillings as well as other restorations. They look more realistic because they replicate the tooth structure they replace. This also means less stress and cracking of the remaining tooth. Your teeth will look perfectly natural.
We are committed to your well-being which is why we only use certain materials. At Smile On Dental Studio, we want your teeth to be healthy, strong and beautiful!
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Composite Fillings
Small fractures and cavities can harm your teeth significantly over time if not treated. In the past, metal fillings were used to restore teeth. Unfortunately, they were unsightly and left teeth looking stained. Today, we use composite fillings that blend in with your natural white tooth color to give you a natural-looking restoration. Since composite is placed in thinner layers than metal, your dentist at Smile On Dental Studio is able to preserve more of your natural tooth.
Composite, white fillings serve the purpose of restoration as well as aesthetics. If you have a cavity that invades the front of your smile, a metal filling would only draw more attention to it. With composite fillings, we remove the decay and then sculpt the area using the tooth-colored composite material. This helps your tooth stay looking natural while also benefiting the health of your teeth.
A composite material is made of liquid resin combined with finely ground glass particles. After it’s molded to your tooth, we use a blue light to set the material in seconds. We then shape and polish your restoration to give it a high shine that resembles a natural tooth. In an easy appointment, your strong, smooth and conservative smile is set.
Ceramic Onlays
When we need to preserve a single broken tooth, we prefer to take the conservative approach. This means we want to restore your tooth in the least invasive way possible. Oftentimes, teeth go through a significant amount of damage from cavities, trauma, or even heavy bite forces. When this occurs, teeth may need to be capped with a dental crown. Smaller fractures can be treated with an onlay. When we use an onlay, we only replace the section of the missing tooth instead of the entire tooth like we would with a crown. Both onlays and crowns look completely natural because they’re tooth-colored and the ceramic matches the luster of natural tooth enamel.
Restore Your Smile with Tooth-Colored Fillings
If you have a cavity, decay, or damage to your teeth, visit our dentist in Richmond Heights, MO to learn if composite fillings are right for you. Dr. Hill will advise your best treatment option. Please call (314) 678-7876 today to schedule an appointment.
