The news written articles stating the dangers of amalgam fillings but many have been proven to be false in numerous scientific studies. Nevertheless, composite fillings certainly are more attractive. Many people don’t realize that your family dentist can replace your silver fillings with white fillings to get rid of all that metal in your mouth – making your open-mouth smiles more attractive.

So what are the pros and cons between the silver and white fillings?
No one would argue that composite or the white fillings are more attractive. These fillings are affordable, and they tend to strengthen a tooth that has been weakened by decay. On negative side, they usually don’t last as long as amalgam fillings, the actual procedure to fill the tooth may take a little longer and, some dental insurance companies don’t want to change their ways and may not cover them.

On the other hand, amalgam or the silver colored fillings have a longer life, are definitely less attractive and tend to expand with age, causing the tooth to weaken and sometimes crack. These fillings have and still cause a bit of controversy on the health risks. Some dentist will not use this type of filling because some of concerns are valid, particularly for people who have other conditions such as pregnancy, mercury sensitivity, and kidney dysfunction or for children who need to have teeth filled.

The best person to ask about your silver fillings is your family doctor. At Wayzata Dental and SmileSpa, we are up on the latest research and practice modern dentistry. Come speak to us! You can visit us online or make an appointment. We not only specialize in giving you that perfect smile but also making sure you are healthy.

In the majority of cases, fillings are not painful at all. That’s not to say there is no discomfort at all. Your dentist will generally numb the tooth just to make sure you don’t feel any pain, and while the thought of a needle in the gums is enough to make anyone cringe, that too is now relatively pain free. One of the best inventions of the last fifteen years has been a gum numbing agent that a dentist can use prior to giving you a local anesthetic.

As the name implies, the gum numbing agent numbs the gums freeing a patient from any pain from the needle. The needle itself is used to place local anesthetic around the tooth – this numbs the tooth so you don’t feel any discomfort from the drilling required to prepare the tooth for a filling. Once the tooth is numb, your dentist can drill out any decay and insert an appropriate filling. Local anesthetics wear off over a couple of hours and the only discomfort is a little soreness where the needle was inserted.

Fillings themselves are painless and help to restore a tooth to as close to normal as possible. By drilling out the decay early, the tooth is saved from any major damage and costly restoration work, or extraction if the decay is too advanced. The biggest danger to a local anesthetic is in accidentally biting the inside of the mouth. This is common in young children, so you will need to pay close attention until the anesthetic has worn off.

It may sound rather old hat, but dentists rely on the eyes more than anything else. To the trained eye, cavities stand out like sore thumbs. Dentists will often find cavities during a general cleaning session. This is because decay often finds a home beneath the plaque that forms in the area where a tooth enters the gum. Dentists may also observe cavities after taking x-rays of your teeth.

Once a cavity has been discovered, your dentist will examine it closely to determine how much of the tooth has been affected by this decay. If it is a small cavity with only a little decay, your dentist will drill out all of the decayed matter and fill the tooth with a suitable filling. If the cavity is large, you may require an inlay, onlay, or perhaps even a dental crown. In the worst situations where there is too much decay, the tooth may require extraction.

Dentists do their utmost to preserve teeth, so extractions are definitely the last option, not the first. It is important to see your dentist as soon as possible if you feel any pain in your teeth. Pain is often an indication of decay and the sooner your dentist removes that decay the less damage it will do, and the smaller the filling required to repair the tooth. If you want to keep your teeth and avoid fillings, brush at least twice a day and visit your dentist every six months to have that plaque professionally removed.

An inlay is similar to a filling in that it is used to fill a single hole in your tooth. Rather than being made from a soft pliable resin that is forced into the cavity, an inlay is shaped to precisely fit the cavity left by decay. An onlay is used in situations where the decay has been more widespread, or you have had more than one cavity on the same tooth. Both are custom made using porcelain and act very much like a dental crown – in fact, inlays and onlays are the best option where a crown could be used, but the bulk of the tooth is worth saving.

When it comes to having an inlay or onlay fitted, the treatment plan is similar to that of a filing. Your tooth is generally numbed and the decayed matter removed from your tooth. Rather than preparing a resin to put into the tooth, digital photography is used to create a three-dimensional image on a computer. This is then used to create a porcelain inlay or onlay ready for your tooth. In a modern dental office, these can be made while you wait and fitted permanently into place on the same day.

Inlays and onlays look very natural, especially when compared to amalgam fillings. They are long wearing and add a lot of strength to a tooth that has been weakened by decay. Porcelain is one substance that can be colored to suit the teeth already in the mouth. This helps to maintain that natural look to your teeth.

While traditional fillings have a habit of falling out over time, inlays and onlays can be the best option – especially long term. If you want good strong healthy teeth, but you have decay in one or two of them, find out from your dentist if an inlay or onlay is suitable.

Having a concern over your health is, in itself, very healthy. If you visit your dentist and they do suggest you require a filling or two, you need to mention your discomfort about the use of mercury amalgam fillings. Why? There are many treatment options a dentist can use – mercury amalgam is just one of them. In most cases, especially for front teeth, your dentist’s preferred treatment is likely to be a tooth-colored resin and not an amalgam, anyway.

Using a dental composite material has become commonplace in dentistry now, even for back teeth that need filling. If the tooth has large gaps that need filling, then onlays, inlays, or even a dental crown could be a consideration. These can all be used as alternatives to mercury amalgam fillings and so reducing any actual or perceived ongoing health issues.

Modern dentistry has come a long way. Dentists no longer dictate what your treatment plan is going to be. Rather, they sit down and discuss the various options available, leaving you to make the final choice based on what you can afford, the outcomes you hope to achieve, and any fears you may have over various treatments. See your dentist as soon as you need to – you are in control of your dental care. Your dentist is just one of the team players.

Whatever you do, keep your tongue out of the hole in your tooth. That hole is often quite sharp and it can cause small nicks in your tongue. You should also avoid putting anything into that hole, even if you have a toothache. Mild painkillers will generally help out until you see a dentist, and that should be your first reaction.

As soon as possible after losing that filling, call your dentist. They will normally try to fit you into their schedule although they may only place a temporary filling to begin with. If you do have a temporary filling, be sure to return to your dentist at the scheduled time so that a more permanent filling can be used.

Why do fillings fall out? There are a number of causes. Further decay in the tooth is a common reason while rigorous brushing is also often at fault. Constant rigorous brushing can slowly lift the filling out of its hole – in fact, most fillings are lost when either brushing or eating.

The most common food stuffs to cause problems for fillings are the sticky toffee style foods. They stick to the teeth and exert a lot of pressure when pulled away from the tooth – another good reason to avoid toffees and candies.

Fillings do come out from time to time. If this happens to you, consult a dentist – they can quickly repair the problem and have that tooth back to normal.

As a parent, your primary role is to allay any fears your child may have. Dentists will often use a small amount of local anesthetic just to be sure the child doesn’t feel any pain at all. Your dentist will use a gum numbing agent first, this helps to reduce most of the pain felt from the local anesthetic needle. Explaining that this process is almost pain free is important for your child. However, don’t lie and tell them it will be totally pain free since this is often not possible.

The process of drilling out any decay and filling the gap left is fairly straightforward. You don’t even need to use the word drill – a young child just needs to know that the ‘bad’ part of the tooth will be removed and the hole filled using a special mixture. Most children will be satisfied with that explanation.

Once you arrive at the dentist’s office, let the dentist take over. They are used to dealing with children and know exactly how to get them to relax. The child’s dentist will normally explain each step to the child as they go, advising the child of what they are doing and what the child can expect to feel.

In most cases, if the child is relaxed and comfortable with the environment, then the whole process will run smoothly and be over quickly. As a parent, don’t spring any surprises on your child. Let them know where they are going and why and a little of what they can expect. Allay any fears and the you won’t have any problems with this or any other trip to the dentist.

There are two basic forms of filling used today – amalgam and composite resin. Amalgam has long been maligned due to the mercury that is used to create the filling. Composite resin has been popular for use in front teeth, however, it is not as long wearing as amalgam on the biting surface’s molars. While composite resin is perfectly safe, what about amalgam?

In years gone by, amalgam, or silver amalgam as it is sometimes known, contained large amounts of mercury. Today’s amalgam fillings have very small amounts of mercury and almost all studies done show that these small levels don’t affect a patient. However, for precautionary reasons more than anything, the following groups should talk to their dentist prior to having any work done.

• pregnant women
• nursing mothers
• children
• those with kidney disease

While there is no outright evidence that shows that this group have been severely affected, caution should be applied to ensure there are no side effects present. Mercury, even in small quantities, can pass through the placenta to the baby in the womb. Mercury is also carried into breast milk.

In most cases, modern dental fillings of either amalgam or composite resin are safe to use – if you have any doubts, talk to your dentist.

Early cavity detection technology has made the identification of these problem areas much easier. Because the tooth decay is much smaller, the dentist doesn’t need to remove as much of the tooth as they would at a later date. This means the actual filling is smaller and the structure of the tooth is not compromised. The end result, stronger and longer lasting teeth.

Dental decay is still the leading cause of tooth loss and early identification of that decay is the only way to preserve that tooth. Once decay reaches a certain point, fillings become nonviable leaving the patient with the choice of extraction or, if the tooth’s root is not compromised, a dental crown.

If you maintain a good oral hygiene routine at home, and visit your dentist at least once every six months, your chances of advanced tooth decay are reduced to almost zero. Your dentist can identify early signs of decay and remove it, before it has a chance of destroying your teeth. A small dental filling is always going to be preferable to a larger filling from both a cosmetic and tooth structure point of view. How can you help? That’s easy – just visit your dentist on a regular basis.

A root canal procedure is indicated when infection or decay is found in a tooth’s root canal. The dentist needs to drill down into that canal in order to remove all of the infected pulp. The dentist may use an x-ray or video imaging to examine the tooth to ensure that all of the infected matter has been removed. The canal is then washed clean using an antiseptic solution.

Once the infected matter has been removed, the canal is then filled using a plastic-based filling. For some patients, if the infection has been widespread, then a crown will be used to add strength to the tooth. For other patients, a normal external filling may be all that is required.

Is the procedure painful? With the use of gum-numbing gels, the patient hardly feels the local anesthetic, let alone the drilling process. As with all dental procedures, there may be some aftereffects felt, including mild pain. Simple pain killers are all that are generally required to solve these issues.

Root canal treatment is now a fairly easy procedure that most patients don’t need to fret over. Gone are the days of painful drills and agonizing recovery periods. If you need a root canal treatment, the sooner it’s done, the less damage your tooth will suffer and the easier the treatment will be.