Reasons Why You Should Choose Metal-free Fillings

When your teeth have been damaged, it is logical to worry about the treatment options that would work for you. At Soni Smiles, we try to help patients understand that they do not have to decide on their own. The important part is to learn more about the procedure you are set up for and choose an oral appliance that best suits your preferences.

A good example is when you need dental fillings for your treatment. Seeing that there are many different types of oral fillings, deciding which ones work best for you will be necessary.

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are oral appliances used to repair damaged teeth by replacing the damaged part with another material. Ideally, there isn’t a one-fits-all kind of filling. A dentist in Clearwater, FL, will tell you that there are different types of dental fillings, ranging from gold and silver to composites resins and ceramics. The role of the dentist is to present you with the different alternatives there are, guiding you through the benefits of all of them.

In the 21st century, more people are leaning more toward metal-free oral fillings. These are fillings that do not contain any metal alloys in them. It cancels out fillings like amalgams and gold fillings.

Common Types of Metal-free Fillings

There is more than one type of fillings that do not contain metal in them. The common ones in dentistry are:

• Composite fillings – they are made from composite resin material. They are tooth-colored, making it easy to match them to the natural color of your teeth.
• Glass ionomer fillings – they are made from acrylic and a special type of glass. They are the best kinds of fillings for fixing teeth right above the gum line. They are also used a lot for treating children’s teeth.
• Inlays and onlays – they are types of dental fillings made of porcelain material. Inlays are used to fill the pits and depressions of teeth, without spreading over to cover the entire cusps thereof. On the other hand, onlays are used for instances where the tooth is too damaged to merit an inlay, or not damaged enough to receive a dental crown.

Advantages of Metal-free Fillings

Since you have many alternatives to choose from, the filling reasons should compel you to choose metal-free oral fillings:

• Aesthetically pleasing – when porcelain, resin, or acrylic is used on teeth, it is not conspicuous. If anything, fillings made from such kinds of materials blend perfectly with teeth because they are tooth-colored and can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.
• Affordability – compared to some metal fillings like gold fillings, metal-free ones are more affordable.
• No allergic reactions – some metal fillings contain mercury and other metals, which can react with your body, depending on what your allergic triggers are. Fortunately, ceramic, porcelain, and acrylic do not react with your skin or body.
• Do not damage teeth – one main problem with using metals for dental treatments is that metals contract and expand with temperature changes. Ideally, any foods you eat that vary in temperature will cause your metal fillings to expand or contract. These changes can crack and break your teeth, especially when they happen for such a long time. With metal-free restorative fillings, this is not a consequence.
• Some fillings may release fluoride – this is specific to glass ionomer fillings. They release the natural mineral, fluoride, which is beneficial for strengthening teeth. It is also necessary for fighting dental cavities and tooth decay. This makes them that much better for treating children’s teeth since kids need more fluoride in their teeth to fight dental cavities.
• Some fillings do not have margins of cavities – this is realized when a filling does not properly cover the cavity and blend well with your teeth. With fillings like onlays and inlays, your teeth are properly filled, without leaving any room for margins of cavities and decay.

Should You Try Them?

Whether dental fillings contain metal or not, they are effective for repairing and restoring your teeth. Studies and research have proved that fillings made of different materials are safe for use in the human oral cavity. In that case, do not feel skeptical about trying out metal or metal-free tooth fillings.