If you have had dental fillings in the past, there is a good chance the filling used was either mercury based or amalgam (mercury is not the base for all amalgam fillings). For many, this has raised concern over the health aspects of metal fillings. While this is not the forum to discuss the pros and cons of these fillings, for those that are concerned, removing these fillings is a simple task.

One of the popular fillings now being used is a composite resin filling. The benefits of these fillings include:

• Coloring – composite resin fillings can be colored to match the tooth
• Strength – composite resin fillings improve the strength of the tooth
• Natural – composite resin fillings are almost invisible so they blend in and look like natural teeth
• Durability – composite resin fillings are more durable than metal fillings

Fillings are generally required when tooth decay has been identified and removed by a dentist. The hole left in the tooth is filled using material that will prevent further decay while adding strength to the tooth. In the past, satisfying those criteria were more important than cosmetic appeal. Today, cosmetic appeal is of equal importance, and that is where composite resin fillings find their appeal.

If you have broken fillings, or old metal based fillings, talk to your dentist about having them replaced with composite resin fillings. The procedure is no different than having decayed tooth material removed. Instead of decayed tooth material, it is an old filling that will be removed. You may be surprised at how natural the finished results will look, and you will have the added benefit of much stronger teeth.

Tags: amalgam fillings, broken fillings, composite resin fillings