You’re looking through old photos on your computer and come across a great one of you. You open it in the viewer for a closer look and notice only one thing about your smile: Your silver fillings are super-obvious and out there for the world to see. You remind yourself — again — that you need to smile with closed teeth the next time someone takes a picture so you don’t have to see those dark spots in an otherwise white smile. At Michelle Munoz, DDS, we have the perfect solution for your problem:
composite fillings.
What Are They?
Composite fillings are made of a tooth-colored plastic resin, so unlike silver amalgam fillings, they blend in beautifully with your smile. While the aesthetics are their most obvious benefit, composite fillings have a few other perks, as well:
- They can be made in a variety of colors to ensure a natural appearance
- They are bonded directly to the tooth, which means less enamel and dentin need to be removed during treatment
- The treatment is relatively simple; after your teeth are polished and the decay is removed, the composite material is placed and hardened with a special curing light
- If cared for properly, they last for years to come
What’s Wrong With Silver?
Most dentists prefer composite fillings to amalgam for a number of reasons, including:
- Composites simply look better than silver amalgam fillings
- Though they have been deemed safe, they do contain small amounts of mercury, which has been linked to potentially severe health conditions
- Amalgam fillings must be large enough to provide the necessary strength, so even if you have a very small cavity, enough tooth surface has to be removed in order to accommodate the filling
- Because of the metals used in amalgam fillings, the silver color can actually tarnish and darken your teeth over time
If you’re tired of those pesky silver fillings getting in the way of your ideal smile, then call our office to
schedule an appointment. We proudly serve residents of Uvalde, Texas, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
