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Silver
vs White Fillings:
If
white fillings are strongly preferred and your dentist does not or will
not use them, you might want to seek a second opinion.
Why
Not Exclusively Use Silver Fillings:
Although
insurance programs provide for higher
costs of silver fillings, tooth-colored materials may serve you better.
Because a tooth-colored filling material can be bonded onto a decayed
tooth, there is less need to cut away healthy parts of a tooth to make the
filling stay in place. Only a specific area of the tooth that is
decayed will be removed and then the filling, which is very adaptable to
small and irregularly shaped defects in the tooth, is bonded onto the
tooth. A silver filling, on the other hand, usually requires that
the tooth be prepared so it has the precise shape and size needed to hold
the filling material. Since a silver filling cannot bond to a tooth,
solid tooth structure is usually sacrificed to make the filling remain in
place. It is not desirable to cut away healthy parts of a tooth that
is expected to last for 60-80 years, or longer. Thus, your choice of
filling materials will have long-term consequences.
Determining If You
Need A Filling:
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The acid caused by plaque in your mouth
can be a big problem. Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria
that forms constantly on your teeth and is extremely difficult to see.
In the above illustration, it is shown
quite vividly after being stained with red dye. If the plaque is not
removed every day, these bacteria produce acid that will eat through your
teeth enamel and produce cavities.
Finding cavities is at times relatively
easy, but at other times it is more difficult. For hard-to-find
cavities, a dental explorer and X-rays are used.
Your Dentist checks the tops and sides
of your teeth with a dental explorer and X-rays are used to look for
cavities between teeth. Metal fillings and crowns show up as bright
white on the X-ray, and cavities show up as dark spots.
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It is far better to catch and restore decayed areas while they are still small
and in the enamel layer of the tooth. Once they're in the softer
dentin layer, they grow quickly. If the cavity reaches the pulp
chamber, a new set of problems develop and a more serious remedy will be
the topic of discussion - root canal therapy.
The dental profession has assigned each
tooth a number, and every surface of a tooth a letter. If cavities
are discovered in your teeth, you will hear your Dentist name the numbers
and letters for each cavity. This method facilitates maintaining an
accurate record of the condition of your teeth, and helps your Dentist
restore and maintain their healthy condition. |
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