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Dr. David A. Smith

David A Smith

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317-597-8748
12188-A North Meridian Street, Suite 355,
Carmel, IN 46032
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are amalgam fillings safe

Old Fillings: What Can Go Wrong?

By on February 25, 2016

 

Did you know that over 90 percent of people will end up with a cavity in their lives? That means the odds are pretty good that you have a filling. With how normal they are there’s still a serious deficit of understanding when it comes to fillings: many people never seem to worry about how long they last.

At Really Smile Dentistry we advocate regular checks of your dental fillings, especially if they’re old metal amalgam ones. The average filling only lasts about ten years, so if you have fillings older than that you need to watch out for potential problems!

What Can Go Wrong With Fillings

You probably don’t even think about your fillings on a regular basis, much less worry about their shelf life. Once a filling passes the decade mark there are some pretty good reasons to have it replaced. If not you’re putting the health of the filled tooth in jeopardy.

Cement: It’s Not Forever

Metal amalgam fillings can’t bond to your teeth at all, so they have to be cemented in place. The cement that is used to attach them is strong, and the chances of the filling actually falling out are incredibly slim. What does happen, however, is that the cement wears away near the surface of your tooth.

As the cement wears away you’re left with small, nearly undetectable gaps between the filling and your tooth. Those gaps are open invitations for bacteria to get inside and start causing tooth decay. Cavities on the insides of your teeth can be disastrous, especially since they’re so hard to detect!

Without treatment an internal cavity can end up breaking through the surface of the tooth, causing brittleness, increasing the risk of fracture, or necessitating the placement of a crown. Don’t let your fillings go too long: they can cost you a tooth!

Fractures You’ll Never See

Bones are designed to flex just the slightest bit. If they weren’t you would have to constantly worry about fractures, breaks, and injuries. Your teeth function the exact same way: they flex a little bit to distribute the forces of chewing and other pressures on your teeth. Guess what doesn’t flex at all? Metal amalgam fillings.

Over the life of a filling your tooth is subjected to a lot of force, and the longer the filling is there the greater your chances of microfractures. These tiny, undetectable cracks in your teeth increase your chances of decay, tooth loss, and severe pain.

Because microfractures are so difficult to diagnose they can easily go undetected until they spread, resulting in an unstable tooth that has to be crowned or extracted (depending on the extent of the damage).

Filling Fractures

Your teeth can crack from fillings, and that’s not all: fillings can break too. Metal amalgam is strong, but it isn’t indestructible. A worn filling can crack, and when it does you can end up with the same problems you have with a cracked tooth.

Inspecting your fillings at regular cleanings and exams is essential to your continued oral health. While some of the filling problems you may have are difficult to notice it’s better to know that serious ones, like cracked fillings, aren’t present!

Filling Replacements That Work

We use dental composite fillings at our Carmel office. These tooth colored, invisible fillings are the next evolution in dental filling material, correcting many of the problems that metal filings face.

  • Composite flexes and bends with your teeth for even distribution of force. This helps to avoid microfractures.
  • Unlike metal amalgam, composite bonds directly to your teeth, eliminating the need for cement and eliminating the risks of it wearing away!
  • Composite is harder to break because it’s a bit more malleable, reducing the risk of cracked or damaged fillings.

While dental composite fillings still have a limited life they are a superior choice to metal. They’re built to blend seamlessly with your teeth, are color-matched, and simply work better!

Don’t Take Chances With Old Fillings

If you have a filling that is over a decade old you need to have it inspected at Really Smile Dentistry. Regular cleanings and exams are the best time for us to take a look at your fillings and create a record of your care that will allow us to always know when your fillings’ time is up.

Don’t let a filling ruin your teeth: make an appointment with us today by calling 317-597-8748! You can also request a visit by filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Failing Fillings? Replace Them Now!

By on August 17, 2015

In an age when most people have at least one dental filling the odds are pretty good that you’re part of that group. If so, you might have questions or concerns about your fillings, especially if they are made from older metal amalgam. We hear questions about these all the time at our Indianapolis dentist office!

You may be wondering if your fillings are safe, if they need to be replaced, or if your tooth could suffer further damage from an aging filling. These are all perfectly reasonable questions to ask, especially if you’ve had your fillings for a while!

If you want to find out all about fillings you’ve come to the right place! Today we’re going to discuss fillings, their long-term outlooks, and how to replace old ones. Hopefully you’ll find answers to the questions you have!

Are Metal Amalgam Fillings Safe?

Concerns over mercury poisoning have increased a lot over the past few years, and metal amalgam is one of the subjects of worry. Amalgam is a mix of metals that does contain mercury, which makes some people wonder if they are safe.

On this point we want to clarify that yes, amalgam fillings are safe. Mercury isn’t harmful to the body unless it’s absorbed while in a gaseous state. Recent studies have shown that aging amalgam fillings can release mercury vapors, but the amount a filling exposes you to is less than your daily intake of mercury simply from eating, drinking, and existing in the world.

In short, amalgam fillings are perfectly safe.

Are Metal Amalgam Fillings Effective?

Metal amalgam is strong, has been used for years, and has been widely successful in filling teeth. That doesn’t mean that it’s without problems, though! As with any technology that exists long enough, we’ve found better solutions for filling teeth that eliminate the shortcomings of amalgam.

  • Amalgam fillings don’t bond to teeth. That means more healthy tooth material has to be removed so that your metal filling can be secured in place.
  • Amalgam fillings are strong, but they are also less flexible than your teeth. This can result in microfractures due to poor distribution of force, resulting in more infection and decay!
  • Amalgam fillings are ugly! No one wants a huge grey blob in their tooth, especially if it’s one that is visible when you smile!
  • While mercury levels in amalgam are safe, there is still concern around its use, especially in young children. Alternatives can help parents rest easier knowing that they aren’t exposing their child to mercury.

What’s The Alternative?

At Really Smile Dentistry, we are proud to offer several different dental fillings, including tooth-colored composite! Composite is made from a mixture of plastics and glass that combine to create a strong, flexible, and amazingly realistic filling! We can even match the color to your teeth for the best look possible!

Composite fillings are the newest form of dental filling materials, and they do a great job at correcting the flaws that amalgam presented. Not only do they look great, they’re also more consistent with the strength and flexibility of your natural teeth. This means that force distributes more evenly, preventing microfractures and cracking that can happen with amalgam.

Composite fillings are also great at bonding to your teeth, so there’s no need to remove healthy tooth to make it stay in place! We always want to treat your teeth conservatively, and composite allows us to do so!

Removing Old Fillings

If you need an old filling replaced, or are interested in having yours taken out, we can do it at Really Smile Dentistry! We use safe and effective methods to remove amalgam from your mouth without releasing toxic mercury gas, so you can rest easy knowing that your filling will be replaced with one that’s more effective and aesthetically pleasing!

It doesn’t matter if you need a filling replaced or simply want a more smile-friendly solution, our Carmel dentist office is here for all your needs! To find out more about your options for replacing and repairing your fillings call us today at 317-597-8748! If you’re ready to make an appointment you can do so by phone or you can fill out our convenient appointment request form. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Monday 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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Dr. David A. Smith explains his vision of life-changing dentistry for Really Smile Dental:

“I chose dentistry as my life’s work because I have the privilege to serve people in a way that is truly life-changing. I was honored with the appointment by Indianapolis Woman Magazine as Makeover Dentist 2008."

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Business Hours

Monday: 7:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(Friday – Sunday: Closed)

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Really Smile Dental
Phone: 317-597-8748
Fax: 317-815-1636
URL: reallysmile.com
12188-A North Meridian Street, Suite 355
Carmel, IN 46032

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