Treating cavities with safe, biocompatible fillings

At Living Wellness Dental Dorchester in Calgary, Alberta, Dr. Kindal Robertson and Jon Calvert are dedicated to providing exceptional dentistry with a focus on overall health, rather than the traditional disease-oriented, reactive model. This has led our practice into the realm of holistic health with a view to a “biologic” approach to dentistry. Our passion for this approach applies to procedures as simple as dental fillings. 

Amalgam-based dental fillings (often referred to as silver amalgam) in the past were, and in some cases still are, commonly used as a treatment for dental cavities. Although silver is in the name, there are other hard metals used in the amalgam, often containing upwards of 50% mercury. With continued research and studies into silver amalgam fillings, a global trend (Minimata Convention, etc.) has been underway for decades to move away from their use. Our team believes in using safe and biocompatible materials to restore the smile, which is why we perform the safe removal (and disposal) of amalgam-based fillings, replacing them with more natural looking composite resin bonding materials.

Understanding the purpose of a tooth filling

Cavities come in all shapes and sizes. These pockets of decay, which differ in depth and severity, are often easy to miss without the trained examination of a dental professional. In fact, many clients who visit our clinic for routine hygiene visits are surprised to hear they even have a cavity. Some cavities cause extreme sensitivity to hot and cold substances and persistent pain. An untreated cavity can leave a tooth susceptible to problems such as structural degradation or subgingival infection, with a high risk of leading to more surgical treatment options such as root canal therapy or even permanent extraction. 

Dental professionals aim to identify, expose and extract any decayed material and impacted surrounding portions of the tooth/teeth. The goal is to halt the progression of the dental caries and apply a “filling” to the hole left behind. The filling serves to seal the tooth and protect it and the rest of the body from further decay and possible infection. In some cases, where large pockets of decay are discovered, more aggressive restorative techniques, such as dental crown placement, may be required to offer an extra layer of protection.

What are safe materials to use for fillings?

Our team avoids the placement of any materials that have the potential to pose additional risk to the client, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the risks are purported to be. Some clients are known to have severe sensitivities to myriad substances and materials used in standard dentistry. We offer our clients the ability to undergo sensitivity testing to discover an array of materials that may pose risks to them, as well as a list of products that are likely to be biocompatible with their physiology. As a standard alternative, we use composite resin that is innocuous and aesthetically matches the colour of your beautiful radiant teeth. Our time-tested craft enables us to deal with the challenges of biocompatible dental restorations by applying the principles of nature’s design.

Schedule an appointment today with Living Wellness Dental Dorchester

Calgary, AB area residents ready for quality, holistic dental care are encouraged to call the office of Dr. Kindal Robertson and Dr. Jon Calvert to discuss their options for natural, biologically compatible, dental restoration solutions. If you are in pain, suspect issues with your dental condition, or simply want to benefit from dental care from a biological approach, call Living Wellness Dental Dorchester at (587) 327-1500 to request an appointment today.  

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