Even though the UK has deemed amalgam to be safe for use as a filling material for cavities, more and more people are opting for white fillings, which are made from materials around which there is no controversy.
At Harley Street Dental Clinic, your dentist in Harley Street, you can have your amalgam fillings replaced.
Currently, the General Dental Council considers mercury to safe for use as a filling material. There is, however, an ongoing debate among scientists about its safety. They agree that amalgam fillings leak mercury into the mouth, but is it safe and is so how much? This is where the debate now lies.
Meanwhile, over the past few decades, porcelain composite materials have been increasing in popularity. Here’s why:
Keep more of your tooth
The first great thing about white fillings is that the dentist in Harley Street only needs to remove the decayed part of your tooth to use this material. When we use amalgam, we have to remove healthy tooth material as well. So, when you get a white filling, you keep more of your tooth. This means it stays stronger and more resilient to the powerful forces created when we chew.
A sealed filling
Also, unlike amalgam, porcelain actually bonds with the tooth, creating a seal that bacteria cannot penetrate. Amalgam just sits inside the tooth, and after time, bacteria can sneak down inside it.
Teeth with a chewing surface
Our back teeth are designed with bumps and hollows to grind up our food. Amalgam is a soft material and cannot recreate these. Amalgam-filled teeth are flat and less able to grind up food. White fillings set hard and can be shaped by your dentist in Harley Street to recreate the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Tooth-coloured
Amalgam fillings glint a dark metal grey in the mouth, showing the world just how many cavities you’ve had. White fillings keep your previous dental upsets a secret.
Better health?
Many patients report feeling better physically when amalgam fillings are removed. Some people may be more sensitive to the effects of mercury than others.
If you want to explore the option of white fillings or any other treatments at our dental clinic, simply book a consultation with one of our highly trained dentists.