Types of Dental Fillings

There are many different types of dental fillings available here in our Severance, Colorado dental office. Many people are most familiar with traditional amalgam fillings, which are the silver ones on top of the teeth. Amalgam fillings have been around for over 100 years and are made up of tin, silver, zinc, copper, and mercury. The advantages of amalgam fillings include:

• Very durable when covering large cavities or dental cavities on molars
• They quickly harden, making them ideal for areas that are hard to keep dry
• The placement time for amalgam fillings is fast, making them easier to handle for special-needs people or children who have a hard time keeping still

Many people have concerns regarding the mercury content in amalgam fillings, but when combined with the other metals, the mercury forms a safe and stable material. The American Dental Association, Center for Disease Control, and Food & Drug Association all agree that dental amalgam is safe for filling dental cavities.

Composite Resin Fillings

Here at Severance Dental, we also office mercury-free, resin-based composite dental fillings. These fillings are white, allowing them to blend in more with the teeth and are made from plastic mixed with powdered glass. This gives them durability. Benefits of composite resin fillings include:

• Blending in with the natural color of the teeth
• Less of the tooth needs to be removed with resin fillings than with amalgam fillings
• The materials are BPA-free

While they have many advantages, composite resin fillings may cost a bit more than amalgam fillings and will take longer to place. For help with deciding which type of dental filling is right for you, please contact Severance Dental to make an appointment. Our family dental office is located here in Severance, Colorado. Our dentist serves Eaton, Pierce, Timnath, Fort Collins, and Greeley as well.