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What is Mercury-free Dentistry?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I keep seeing dentists call themselves “mercury free dentists”. What does that mean?

Bethany L. – Ohio

Bethany,

Traditional silver fillings, clinically called amalgam fillings, actually consist mostly of mercury. These were first developed in the 1800s. Though the main ingredient is mercury, they called them silver fillings—which makes for better marketing.

Mercury is a toxic substance.  You have likely heard the warnings about mercury in fish and the recommendation to limit your intake. Many patients are concerned about the mercury in dental fillings and are asking their dentists to provide mercury free fillings.

When a dentist calls himself (or herself) a mercury-free dentist, they mean they offer composite fillings. These are white fillings that have no mercury in them at all.

Not only do many dentists consider this a healthier option, they’re also better for your teeth than their amalgam counterparts–not to mention they look much more natural.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Is my dentist trying to talk me out of replacing amalgam fillings?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I recently made an appointment to have amalgam fillings removed from two back teeth and replaced with composite. My dentist kind of “warned” me that there might be some staining on my teeth from the silver fillings and to not expect my teeth to look completely white. Maybe I’m crazy, but it just really felt as if he was trying to talk me out of doing it altogether. Will these teeth be stained from the old fillings and if so, is there a way to remove the staining? Also, the fillings are pretty large – probably about 70% of my tooth. Will the white fillings be better than amalgam as far as strength and durability? — Steve

Steve,
It’s no secret that taking out old amalgam fillings and replacing them with white composite fillings will definitely look better. Your teeth might be slightly discolored from the amalgam fillings, but since it is on the back teeth, it shouldn’t be very noticeable at all.

With that said, it does sound very much like your dentist is in a round-about way trying to talk you out of the composite fillings. It’s probably because he is simply not comfortable doing them, but doesn’t want to come right out and say it. There’s a big difference in how composite fillings are placed in back teeth compared to amalgam and when it’s not done correctly there can be all sorts of problems and even damage to the teeth. If your dentist seems reluctant, don’t push the issue and instead, find another dentist who is trained in that area.

Another red flag to consider is the size of the fillings. If they are as big as you say, your dentist really should have done crowns. However, if you stick with fillings, composite will  definitely be stronger and more durable because they bond to the tooth where as amalgam fillings just sit in the tooth, making it’s easier for the tooth to break or fracture.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Will silver fillings expose my son to mercury?

Posted on by smiles4u.

There’s been a lot of buzz about mercury-free dentists lately and I’m not really sure what to think. I have silver fillings and mine have held up just fine over the years without any issues. But since I’ve become a mom, I tend to be really protective of my son and have tried, whenever possible, to minimize his exposure to dangerous chemicals. I’ve thought about a mercury-free dentist for him, but he really loves our current dentist and I have a feeling it would be really hard to switch. Are the benefits worth switching to a mercury-free dentist? — Maria

Maria,
As it stands now, the American Dental Association (ADA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and even the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) stand behind the safety of amalgam fillings. Of course, we all recognize the dangers of mercury, but in doses as small as this, all of the agencies agree that they’re safe. However, many other private organizations continue to question their safety and there’s a big movement to get away from them anyway.

The good news is that you probably do not need to seek out a mercury-free dentist in order to avoid amalgam fillings. Most dentists are happy to work with you and will do a composite (tooth- colored) filling if that’s what you prefer, even if they routinely do metal ones. Rather than try to switch, it’s a good idea to talk with your current dentist and see what his thoughts are. You may be surprised to find out how seldom he does amalgam fillings to begin with. Avoiding them, should your son ever need to have a filling, shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Sometimes dentists do prefer to do metal fillings on kids because it’s easier to make sure they stay put. The tooth colored fillings require cooperation from the patient and a dry mouth. If your son can’t cooperate, or if the dentist feels amalgam is best, then you may want to start searching for an alternative. Often times, a pediatric office can help overcome these obstacles with their demeanor or by entertaining the child while the work is being performed. Sedation or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can also be offered to help kids stay more comfortable and agreeable in the chair.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

New dentist refuses to fill my cavities with white fillings

Posted on by smiles4u.

I recently moved to a new town and one of the first things I needed to do was find a new dentist because I have a couple of cavities on my back teeth that need filled. A co-worker of mine recommended a dentist, and when I went to see him he told me that he could only do amalgam fillings on those teeth, even though I insisted on white fillings. He claims the cavities are too deep to do white fillings. I don’t want amalgam, so I left the office quite annoyed. Are the fillings really too deep to do white fillings? Now I’m in search of another dentist who takes Denti-Cal insurance that will do the white fillings.  — Leonard

Leonard,
First of all, the reason your dentist is giving as to why he can’t do white fillings is completely ridiculous. White fillings are better than amalgam for deep cavities because the composite material actually strengthen the structure of the tooth, making the tooth less susceptible to breaking – plus, sensitive to hot and cold is greatly reduced.

I think the problem may be with your insurance and your dentist just isn’t telling you. Denti-Cal is the government dental insurance plan in California and it doesn’t provide benefits for white fillings (because they cost more than amalgam). They don’t even allow you to pay the difference. Unfortunately, if you want white fillings, you’re going to have to pay the full amount out of your own pocket.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Is my cavity really too deep for a white filling?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I have cavities on two of my back bottom teeth and I requested that my dentist do white fillings. He insists that I need amalgam fillings because the cavities are too big and deep for the white ones. I’m wondering if that’s really the case or if my insurance is the problem and he’s just not telling me. I have Denti-Cal. — Rob

Rob,
For starters, if your dentist is giving you the excuse that your fillings are too deep for white fillings, that’s totally wrong. The deeper the filling is, all the more reason to use white composite. Amalgam fillings can cause sensitivity to hot and cold, and when a filling is very deep, that sensitivity is even worse because the hot and cold is conducted directly into the tooth. Also, when a filling is very deep, the walls of the cavity can be very thin, thus making them susceptible to breaking when amalgam is used. A white filling actually strengthens the tooth structure.

I think the main issue here (and what your dentist is not telling you) is your insurance. Government dental insurance plans like Denti-Cal do not cover white fillings because they are more expensive than amalgam. Most of these plans won’t even allow participants to pay the difference, so you if you want white fillings you’ll have to pay for them out of your own pocket.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Pain after white filling – will it go away?

Posted on by smiles4u.

My friend recently had a couple of white fillings done by her dentist and I really like the way they look. At my recent appointment to have a filling, I told my dentist I wanted a white filling and he didn’t seem too excited about doing it. He was more interested in telling me about the risks associated with them – like the possibility of infection from saliva. I acknowledged the risks, but still wanted the white filling and he reluctantly did the procedure. It was a lot more painful than I thought it would be, and now, two weeks later, I still have a consistent ache on that side of my mouth. Will it go away? I’m  taking a pain reliever to help, but don’t know if I should call my dentist back. Any advice? — Cecelia

Cecelia,
Unfortunately, you probably pushed your dentist out of his comfort zone. There’s no doubt that when a dentist knows how and is completely comfortable doing white fillings, they will choose them over the old silver/mercury amalgam fillings. There should be no problems with contamination from saliva when a dentist does it right. Your dentist was likely not comfortable with the procedure and that is why he was reluctant, and based on the pain your are experiencing it would probably have been best to back off.

You need to find a dentist who knows how to do white fillings right and that can replace it.  When there’s contamination during the bonding process, bacteria gets in the little tubules of the dentin of your teeth, and it is not sealed against continual contamination. This should be fixed so that you don’t have any further harm to your tooth.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Do I need to have my fillings replaced?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I recently saw my dentist and he told me I need to have my silver fillings removed and replaced with white fillings. Unless there is something wrong with them, do they need to be replaced? I can’t afford $3600 right now.

– Lisa from Illinois

Lisa,
Over time, fillings will deteriorate and become leaky. Amalgam fillings can even crack or become corroded. Today, may patients are opting for mercury-free composite fillings because of their many advantages over silver or amalgam.

With that said, your dentist shouldn’t be telling you to replace your existing fillings unless there is something wrong with them (i.e. if they are leaking, bacteria can seep into the tooth in the crack between the filling and the tooth causing tooth decay under the filling, which can be serious.)

Sometimes patients want to have all their old silver amalgam fillings taken out and replaced with white fillings; however that is a personal choice to do so. Your dentist shouldn’t try to talk you into something like that.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.