Amalgam/Mercury Restorations vs. Composite/Tooth-Colored Restorations
Many of us have had amalgam/mercury restorations placed in our teeth over the years, and patients often wonder what the differences are between these old restorations and the newer, tooth-colored composite restorations.
- Amalgam restorations include some level of mercury, which helps to make them soft when they are initially placed. Once the restoration has hardened, it is thought that the mercury is released at low levels over long periods of time.
- Amalgam is mechanically retained in your tooth, meaning the tooth is prepared in a specific shape that allows the restoration to lock into place. Because of this, amalgam restorations are often quite large and involve removal of healthy tooth structure to create a ‘wedge’ shape for the filling to lock into.
- Like any metal, amalgam restorations corrode over time and can cause discoloration/staining of the surrounding natural tooth structure.
- Although amalgam is durable, it weakens the tooth structure around them, often causing fractures of the tooth.
- When an amalgam restoration fails, the entire restoration must be replaced.
- Composite restorations are a ‘composite’ of resin, plastic, and glass and do not include any metal or mercury. They are initially soft, and they become hard when a distinct wavelength of light is shined on them.
- Composite restorations are bonded (essentially glued) into your tooth. Because they are bonded, composite restorations can be any size, are typically smaller, and involve less removal of tooth structure.
- Composite restorations come in many shades and are specifically shade-matched to each specific tooth they are placed within.
- Composite restorations are generally thought to support the tooth structure around them. Because they are bonded into the tooth, the bond of the restoration to the natural tooth helps to provide support and strength.
- If a composite restoration shows signs of deterioration, they can sometimes be ‘patched’ so that only the defective aspect is repaired, rather than replacing the entire restorations.
See you again soon. – Dr. Troupe
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