100 S. Keene St.
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 449-7483
No silver fillings
No silver fillings
Most people who have ever had a crown know that the tooth involved originally was treated with a silver filling. That silver filling may have already failed once and been treated with an even larger filling, until the tooth itself failed, usually having a part of it break away from the filling. Have you ever seen teeth that turn an unsightly bluish color? That's the sign of a failing silver filling.
So-called "silver fillings" (also known as amalgams) are an alloy of mercury, tin, copper, and yes, some silver. Given time, they almost always begin leaking along their edges. They also weaken teeth because there isn't any special "glue" holding them in place. What holds them in? It's because they're bigger on the inside than on the surface. The tooth itself supports the filling, instead of the other way around.
A much better alternative for a small to medium sized cavity is a composite resin restoration which is strongly bonded to the entire interior surface and edges. A composite, when properly placed, actually restores strength to the tooth, thus avoiding the leakage and weakening of the tooth like the older amalgam fillings.
We made a commitment some 15 years ago to eliminate the use of silver fillings in our practice. Over that period of time, almost none of the teeth we have treated with adhesive restorations have needed to be retreated or crowned. In addition, with attention to more than a dozen factors that lead to success, we have attained an absolutely zero rate of postoperative sensitivity. In fact, Dr. Ogden has given talks on this subject to the Columbia Dental Society, Central District Dental Society, and the Missouri Dental Association.
Many people have heard that composite restorations don't last as long and are sensitive. We simply don't experience that with our technique. The bottom line is that your teeth remain stronger and look much better with adhesive restorations. Better yet, you can save as much as a thousand dollars per tooth in the long run by not needing crowns in the future.
