Mercury-Free Dentistry
The use of mercury in dental fillings has been controversial since it began around 1830. With all the controversy surrounding mercury in recent years, many people have begun to question the safety of the use of mercury in dentistry. According to the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the US Public Health Service, mercury-fillings are both safe and reliable. So why switch? The reason is that mercury-free fillings can be better for the health and appearance of your teeth.
It is true that mercury-based fillings (aka amalgam fillings) are reliable, but they also have their downfalls. For starters, they’re not very attractive. Amalgam fillings have a very definitive gray color that can be visible when laughing or talking. Dr. Clements prefers to use composite resin and porcelain inlays to restore teeth. The resin comes in many shades so that Dr. Clements and his staff can best match the filling to your teeth; it’ll look like you never had a filling at all!
Another benefit of mercury-free fillings is the minimal amount of drilling that goes into preparing the tooth. When filling a cavity, the dentist must eliminate the decayed areas. With amalgam fillings, more drilling must be done to assure that the filling will remain secure. Mercury-free fillings bond with the tooth so less drilling must be done, allowing more of the tooth to be preserved.
However, Dr. Clements’ primary concern in using amalgam fillings is that they seem to have the unique property of enlarging over time. As they swell, they push against and put strain on the tooth. Dr. Clements believes these fillings are the number one reason for cracked teeth. It is primarily for this reason that he made the switch to being entirely mercury-free in 1996.
Whether you’ve got a cavity that needs filling, or have existing amalgam fillings you wish look more natural, Dr. Clements and his friendly staff can help you! Call us today at (229)-242-5511 to set up a free consult. We’re happy to answer any more questions you might have about Mercury-free dentistry as well.
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These teeth have cracked due to swelling of amalgam fillings |
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