Mercury-Free Dental Fillings

These days, more than ever before, people do not want mercury fillings in their mouth. Who can blame them? These types of dental fillings have been placed dating back to the Civil War. The only reason they are still used at all is that they are cheap and they are easy to place. Even dentists who place and remove metal mercury fillings are required to have high-grade mercury separators in our water lines so that mercury doesn’t accidentally get spilled into our sewage and water treatment systems. As of today, is illegal to place metal mercury fillings in 28 countries around the world. So even though there are a number of American studies that show that these fillings are acceptably safe, we do not recommend them to our patients because we know that there are much better options available. Whether patients are concerned about health issues, toxicity, or simply don’t want dark grey fillings in their teeth, new advances in technology for placing beautiful, white, aesthetic restorations mean that patients have the option to choose something better. At Advanced Dentistry of Amarillo, Dr. Miller and Dr. Esler believe that bonded adhesive composite fillings are far superior to older metal mercury fillings. 

This is why we only recommend, and place in our office, the two best types of restorations: porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain is beautiful, translucent, and highly durable when created by a top-notch dental laboratory technician. There is much less removal of tooth structure with porcelain restorations (inlays and onlays). The porcelain has equal strength as the original tooth and is actually bonded in, rendering it just as strong as the original tooth. Porcelain is used to repair teeth that have broken or chipped, or when teeth have large, cracked, metal fillings. Composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic that can be placed in one visit. Generally, a composite is a great option for smaller restorations and is an excellent replacement alternative to most mercury fillings.

Both Dr. Miller and Dr. Esler are highly trained in the science of dental materials, giving them the perspective to offer the best options for tooth restoration to each patient. After all, our commitment is “excellence in cosmetic and comprehensive care,” and we stand by that promise with each recommendation we make.

To learn more about our metal-free dentistry services, contact our office and request a consultation.

Advanced Dentistry of Amarillo is proud to serve patients in Amarillo, Canyon, Dalhart and the surrounding Texas Panhandle.