Over the past few years, amalgam and composite resin have become two of the most common fillings in dentistry, but whats the difference between the two?
Amalgam filling material has many metal components,, including mercury, that provide it with with high-strength characteristics. However, due to its components, it does not meet the aesthetics criteria, as it has a metallic appearance. Mercury in amalgam has also caused many debates regarding how safe the material is to use in the mouth. Health Canada deems mercury in amalgam to be safe, as most people are at higher risk of exposure to mercury in their daily lives than from a dental amalgam filling. An amalgam filling also takes 24 hours to harden; therefore, the client cannot chew on the recently filled tooth for 24 hours.
Composite resin is a newer material that gained popularity in the last few years as it has high strength as well as the aesthetic component that amalgam filling does not. Composite resin comes in many colors and can be matched to one’s teeth, giving it a natural appearance. Due to its aesthetics, composite resin is commonly used in the front teeth. Composite resin filling is also light-cured right away and hardens; therefore, clients can eat on the filling right away.
Now that you know the difference between the different filling materials, you can understand why your dentist may choose one over the other for your fillings!
If you have any questions or want more information, we invite you to call our team at The Smile Team in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, today at 416-546-5599. We look forward to helping you in any way we can, and we thank you for the opportunity!