Silver fillings are a common procedure used in dentistry to restore teeth that are damaged by decay. These silver fillings are made out of a mixture of metals, including liquid mercury and a powdered metal alloy. The metal alloy contains significant amounts of silver, tin, and copper, and a smaller amount of zinc and/or other trace metals.
Why might you want to get silver fillings? Silver fillings are a really good option when it comes to repairing a tooth by filling a cavity, crack or other damage. Silver filling is also a very durable option since it is built to protect and strengthen your teeth for 10 – 15 years and is a very cost effective choice as it is one of the least expensive options when it comes to dental filling. Silver filling is a one visit, painless procedure.
To begain the procedure of adding the silver filling your dentist will first examine the tooth, typically using an xray. Next they will use anesthesia to numb the tooth and its surrounding area to make sure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. They will then use specialized tools to remove any decay, and shape the tooth to prepare the space for the filling. The dentist will then mix the powdered metal alloy with liquid mercury to create a pliable, soft putty. This mixture is then carefuly placed and compacted into the prepared cavity. Finnaly the filling is shaped to ensure that it fits the shape of your tooth correctly, your bite is comfortable and the filling is polished to create a smooth surface.
After 10 – 15 years your silver filling can go bad due to wear and tear over time, causing the tooth to crack, leak or become losse which can lead to further tooth decay or infection. If you notice pain or sensitivity to hot and cold tempretures there is a good chance that your silver filling is going bad. If this happens you should immediatley inform your dentist and schedule an appointment. The dentist will then examine the situation and remove your old filling, clean the tooth, and then place a new restoration.
Another option people typically chosse to go with is white filling as it is more pleasent to look at since it blends in with your teeth rather then being visiable like silver filling. White fillings are also better for preserving healthy tooth structure whereas silver filling is better for large black teeth fillings due to their strength. White filling also lasts between 5 to 10 years and is the more expensive option between the two.
At the Smile Team, we provide our clients with the best treatment options for them so book a consultation with Dr. Abid Hidayat today. We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.