Common Non-Mercury Filling Options
There are a wide variety of dental materials that may be used in dental fillings today, and each material has both strong and weak points. Discuss your options for non-mercury fillings with Dr. Saunders during your appointment with us at our Asheville dental practice. He’ll assist you in making the best decision for your particular oral care needs!
To properly treat your cavity, you want a filling that’s strong and durable, yet affordable. Thanks to advancements in dentistry, you’ve got several choices with our dentist in Asheville. We specialize in completing non-mercury fillings to keep you and your family safe.
Benefits to using Non-Mercury Filling in Asheville
What are the most common non-mercury filling options available today?
Composite Resin (Tooth-Colored Fillings)
Composite is a mix of acrylic resin and powdered glass-like particles that make a tooth-colored filling. Composite is used for inlays, veneers, and fillings, especially on front teeth. Sometimes it’s used to replace a portion of a broken or chipped tooth. Advantages include color and shading that can be matched to existing teeth.
Composite resin fillings can be used for both small and large cavities. During your visit at our Asheville family dentist office, Dr. Saunders will use a special blue light that hardens the resin directly into your filling. Composite resin can also be used for indirect fillings, in which a mold will be taken of your tooth and during a second visit, Dr. Saunders will bond the filling to your tooth.
Patients like composite resin because it accurately matches the color of their natural teeth and usually only takes one visit. Composite resin is strong, durable, and safe. It could be the best material for your filling!
Glass Ionomer
As the name implies, glass ionomer is a mixture of fine glass and acrylic acids. It’s an excellent choice for small cavities on non-biting surfaces and can be made to match an existing tooth. Ionomers wear faster than composite and amalgam and have limited use. They may be used for baby teeth or for patients who have a significant amount of tooth decay or for patients who need fillings close to their gumline.
Glass ionomer fillings will match your teeth, although not as seamlessly as resin. However, they do provide fluoride and help prevent further decay in the mouth. Glass ionomer fillings are also weaker than resin. A glass ionomer filling could be the best choice for you depending on your unique smile and filling needs!
Glass ionomer fillings may not be the best choice for spaces like a molar; however, if you’re at high risk for cavities or have many cavities, Dr. Saunders may suggest glass ionomer fillings. Depending on your oral health and the location of your filling, glass ionomers may be an option for you.
Porcelain (Ceramic)
Used in inlays, onlays, crowns, and cosmetic veneers, porcelain materials include porcelain, ceramic, or glass-like fillings and crowns.
Fusing porcelain to a metal such as gold increases the strength and durability of the filling. A porcelain filling will also match your natural teeth and tend to hold up better against things like staining and wear as opposed to composite resin. The ceramic material of porcelain can make it more susceptible to chips and breaks, however.
Ceramic fillings tend to last longer than any of your other non-mercury filling options and tend to be more resilient. You’ll also be able to retain more of your natural tooth, as ceramic fillings don’t need quite the same amount of bonding space as your other options. This also means less drilling! Talk with your Asheville dentist, Dr. Saunders, to discover if porcelain fillings are the right choice for you.
During your regular checkup exam with us, Dr. Saunders can determine if you need a filling and if so, talk with you about what your choices are. Our non-mercury fillings enable us to provide you with a variety of materials to use. Dr. Saunders will help you make the best decision based on your unique needs.
Your Comfort Is Our Priority
Have anxiety about getting a filling done? Don’t worry. Our Asheville dentist office offers sedation dentistry to help you stay relaxed and worry-free during your appointment. Talk with our office manager about sedation dentistry before your appointment to get your cavity filled. Our goal is to make you as comfortable with us as possible!
To discuss your treatment options for non-mercury fillings with Dr. Saunders, or to get a checkup to see if any dental fillings are needed, give us a call for an appointment today at our Asheville dental practice: 828-277-6060.