Dental Amalgam & composite fillings
Dental Amalgam is a commonly used dental filling that has been used for over 150 years. It is a mixture of mercury with at least one other metal. Amalgam has many advantages over other restorative materials, such as low cost, strength, durability, and bacteriostatic effects. Some of our patients have questions/concerns with the mercury in amalgam. If you do, please feel free to ask questions and discuss this with us.
Dental Composite (tooth-colored)fillings continue to gain in popularity and predictability. There are many circumstances in which composite serves better than amalgam -for esthetic (more natural looking) restorations,when bonding to a small amount of remaining tooth is necessary,or when a more conservative preparation to leave more sound tooth structure would be beneficial.
On average, most amalgam restorations serve for 10 to 12 years, whereas resin-based composites serve for about half that time. However, with recent improvements in composite material science and a better understanding of the technique-sensitivity of placement, it should be noted that this difference is decreasing.
The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that both amalgam and composite materials are considered safe and effective for tooth restoration.