Mercury-Free Dentist
Dentistry, like so many professions, has seen tremendous advancements and new technologies. Drs. Drake and Wallace have stayed on top of these advancements and are proud to offer mercury-free dentistry to their patients.
Why Choose Mercury-Free Fillings
The standard of care for many years has been amalgam fillings for cavities. Amalgam fillings are silver in color, and, while they are referred to as silver fillings, they are actually a little less than half silver, with more mercury in them than silver. And while the material itself is strong, these fillings weaken the teeth and have other limitations. At Drake and Wallace Dentistry, we prefer mercury-free composite fillings.
Because the composite will bond to the tooth, undermined tooth structure can be left intact and only the decay has to be removed, resulting in a smaller restoration and stronger tooth. With amalgam, all the undermined tooth structure has to be drilled away. Amalgam will also corrode over time.
The mercury content is the biggest concern most people have with amalgam. While the official position of the American Dental Association is that these fillings are perfectly safe, many people feel uncomfortable with the idea that they have mercury in their mouth.
Another benefit of composite fillings, and a reason they are preferred by patients and dentists alike, is that the composite material can be made to match the color of your natural teeth. By matching your teeth, no one will even know you have a filling placed.
The composite filling material offers the strength and durability to even be placed on the back molars, which receive tremendous wear from chewing. Coupled with advanced bonding techniques, composite fillings have quickly become the filling material of choice by both dentists and patients.
If you are interested in mercury-free dentistry, we would be happy to see you for an exam. Just give us a call, or use our request an appointment form and we will call you.