If you need a filling, you don’t have to settle for metal. Tooth-colored fillings, also known as composite fillings, are a natural-looking and durable solution to restore your smile.
The best part? Holistic dentist Dr. Ed Trizzino and the team at Smiles of Atlanta offer composite fillings in Atlanta, Georgia.
Here are seven advantages of tooth-colored fillings.
Unlike silver (amalgam) fillings, composites match the shade of your natural teeth, so they’re virtually invisible. You can smile and talk with confidence, knowing that your dental work won’t stand out.
Composite fillings bond directly to your tooth, so Dr. Trizzino can remove less healthy tooth structure than with traditional metal fillings. This helps maintain the strength and integrity of your natural tooth.
Amalgam fillings contain up to 54% of mercury, which raises health concerns among some patients. The World Health Organization lists mercury as one of the top 10 public health concerns, and unfortunately, eating and drinking hot liquids can lead to inhaling mercury vapor.
Tooth-colored fillings are mercury-free, so they’re a safer and more modern choice for dental restorations.
As a holistic dentist, Dr. Trizzino considers the lack of mercury to be one of the best advantages of composite fillings. That being said, if you already have amalgam fillings, Dr. Trizzino is skilled in the proper procedure to safely remove them and replace them with composites.
Metal fillings expand and contract with temperature changes, which can lead to cracks in your teeth over time. Composite fillings don’t have this issue, so they can reduce your sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
Advances in dental materials have made composite fillings more resistant to wear and tear.
Researchers who have studied the durability of composite (tooth-colored) fillings when they replace old amalgam (metal) fillings found that 62% of fillings were still in perfect condition even after 15 years, and 75% were still functional.
In other words, composite fillings can last 10-15 years or longer, especially when they’re done by an experienced dentist like Dr. Trizzino.
Getting a tooth-colored filling is a simple and efficient process. Dr. Trizzino cleans your tooth and removes any decayed tissue, applies the composite resin, shapes it to match your tooth, and hardens it with a specialized light — all in a single visit.
About 50% of kids aged 6-9 have a cavity in their teeth (baby or adult teeth), and about 10% of those aged 12-19 have at least one cavity in their adult teeth. Thankfully, composite fillings can be a safe, mercury-free option for treating cavities in kids.
As a bonus, children don’t have to worry about the telltale silver appearance of metal fillings, so they feel more confident with their smiles.
If you need a filling or want to replace old metal ones, tooth-colored fillings are a great option. Our team is more than happy to discuss your restoration options with you.
Use our online booking system to request an appointment or call us at 770-407-8459.
