5 Reasons why Dental Amalgam Fillings should be Replaced

If you’re past the age of 30, chances are you have amalgam fillings in your teeth. Silver amalgam was the most common type of filling used in the past. Although silver amalgams sound glittery and glamorous, they are full of metals, some of which are known to pose dangerous threats to humans and the environment. Today, most dentists consider composite fillings a safer, more efficient option for cavity treatment. At Living Wellness Dental Dorchester, we offer biologically-friendly options for fillings and safe amalgam removal services to Calgary residents for improved oral health. Here are five good reasons to replace silver fillings with composite resin material.

Improved Appearance

Amalgam fillings are dark and silver in colour, starkly contrasting the aesthetics of your bright, white, natural teeth. If the metallic colour shows when you talk or smile, it can be distracting and detract from your smile’s appearance. More naturally coloured composite fillings blend in seamlessly with your teeth resulting in a picture-perfect smile you can be confident about in any situation.

Better Bonding

Composite fillings bond more effectively with your teeth, which prevents them from becoming loose or shifting over the years. In addition to blending in aesthetically to your radiant smile, composite fillings also provide strength, structure and stability to treated teeth.

Protection against Cracking

Amalgam fillings are prone to expansion and contraction with temperature changes due to their metal content. Over time, the process of expansion and contraction can weaken teeth, making them more prone to cracking. In contrast, composite fillings are more resistant to effects of heating and cooling and retain their durability throughout the years to protect your teeth from breakage.

Reduced Risk of Decay

Expansion and contraction cause amalgam fillings to become more susceptible to coming loose over the years. As one of the primary functions of dental fillings is to protect the inner tooth structure from harmful bacteria, loose fillings put your teeth at risk of decay and jeopardize your overall health. Cracked teeth left untreated create highways for bacteria to travel deeper into the tooth, and potentially into the jaw bone and bloodstream, posing dangerous threats to vital systems. By replacing loose amalgam fillings with composite material, Dr. Kindal Robertson can protect your teeth from further decay and your body from harmful bacterial effects. 

Risks of Mercury Presence

Mercury in any form is toxic to the environment and to our bodies. Its presence in amalgams represents risks to health through grinding and chewing action associated with eating and some sleep disorders. Your biologically-focussed dentist can remove potentially harmful materials from your mouth following the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) and provide you with a more biocompatible option on your next dental visit. More information on the advantages of biocompatible dentistry can be found at www.iaomt.org.

Reduced Health Risk

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that if you have sensitivity to metals, if you are pregnant, if you are immunocompromised or your health is ailing, amalgam fillings could pose a greater risk to your overall health. By taking advantage of the safe and effective dental amalgam removal services at Living Wellness Dental Dorchester, you won’t have to worry about the harmful effects of metals in your system.

To learn more about dental amalgam removal, visit our website at www.lwdd.ca or contact our Living Wellness Dental Dorchester team in Calgary at (587) 327-1500. Amalgam removal is a positive step towards a natural-looking, attractive smile and improved oral and overall wellness.