Composites Versus Amalgam/Mercury Fillings

Composites VS Amalgam/Mercury Fillings

Here at The Center For Natural Dentistry we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of dental care possible for our patients.  This includes filling cavities with white composite material only (as opposed to mercury containing amalgam fillings).

The average amalgam is 50% mercury bonded to 30% silver and a bit of copper, tin, and zinc.

We, at The Center For Natural Dentistry, do not use amalgams for the following reasons:

1.    A tooth colored filling is stronger because it actually bonds to your tooth.  The composite bonds all the remaining walls of the tooth together.  Because amalgams do not bond to tooth structure, there is a gap between the filling and the tooth, which significantly decreases the strength of the tooth.  This gap provides a pathway for bacteria and acids to get into and cause further decay.

2.    Amalgam fillings expand and contract so much, they create a wedge in the tooth leading to a weakened tooth structure.  The tooth, over time will eventually break apart and the only thing remaining in your mouth will be the filling.

3.    Silver fillings are ugly.  We like to give people beautiful teeth.

Currently insurance companies cover 80% of amalgam fillings but do not cover 80% of composite fillings.  Although we realize there is an increased cost to our patient, we feel that the quality of dental care associated with composite fillings greatly outweighs the added cost incurred.

The Center For Natural Dentistry will always offer our patients leading edge technology with a caring and professional attitude.  We will only recommend to you what is best for your dental health and what we provide for our families and ourselves.