- Old Amalgam fillings removed and restored with a tooth colored restoration
Over the past several years, concerns have been raised about silver (mercury) fillings, otherwise called amalgam. Because amalgams contain the toxic substance mercury, some people believe that amalgams are responsible for causing a number of diseases or contributing to a health decline in people with chronic illnesses.
The American Dental Association(ADA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say amalgams are safe, and that the link between mercury-based fillings and disease is unfounded. Many patients would disagree. So as the debate rages on, this may be one of the reasons the insurance plan your employer chooses, pay an amalgam allowance on back teeth where the patient would prefer to have white, tooth colored resin material.
Replacing old amalgams is a discussion we have everyday with our patients. Dr.Shlafer knows from experience the amalgam restorations will break down or fail, creating an opportunity for decay. Since we cannot x-ray through the silver filling there is no way to tell how extensive the decay might be, creating a concern that a root canal could be lurking in that tooth’s future.
Using tooth colored resin material to restore a tooth is not a purely cosmetic recommendation. (although your tooth does look untouched) Dr.Shlafer finds this material more predictable and reliable, making it easier to monitor for any future problems. The resin material can be x-rayed allowing for Dr.Shlafer to head off any concerns at the early stages prior to becoming a more complicated procedure.
Patients frequently voice their concerns over safe amalgam removal and Dr.Shlafer will explain that he uses a rubber dam and oxygen mask for our patients. He also uses a special hand piece that has air and water built in, alleviating the concern of vapors in the air that may be generated by a heat driven hand piece. He has a high filtration vacuum system that quickly removes debris as the existing amalgam is cut into chunks and removed. He is also a member of IAOMT –International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology which is a society comprised of dentists concerned about safe removal of amalgam fillings.
If you have any questions or concerns related to any old amalgams you still have, feel free to talk to Dr.Shlafer and he will aid you in coming up with a plan to replace them.
Advances in Dental Care
Has time gotten away from you? Has it been a while since you’ve been in to see Dr.Shlafer? If so, be prepared to discover a lot of new options to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful. Here are a few of the newer dental care procedures and techniques:
- Improving dental health: How high-tech x-rays can help. For the last several years digitized x-rays have replaced traditional radiographs in our office. Digital x-rays are faster and more efficient. First an electronic sensor is place in the patient’s mouth to capture the image, that image is then relayed to our computer for viewing. Dr.Shlafer can store the digital images and compare them with previous images to see if there are any changes.
- CEREC–CAD/CAM technology stands for “computer assisted design/computer assisted manufactured” Together, with Dr.Shlafer’s expertise, this translates into an opportunity to have a porcelain crown or inlay fabricated and completed in one visit. This eliminates the impression we all enjoy, wearing a temporary for 2 weeks, and returning for a second visit.
- Better Bonding and filling materials–If you have chipped a tooth, you can have it fixed to look extremely natural thanks to improvements in bonding material and techniques. Today’s bonding material is a resin, which is shinier and longer lasting than substances used in the past. There is also a wider range of shades available that can be better blended to match your tooth’s natural color. This resin material can also be used in place of amalgam fillings on back teeth to give the tooth a more natural appearance. More on new technology tomorrow.
