After months of self-isolating, it is time to swap out your weekly facetime catchups for an in-person night out. Despite the face coverings, social distancing guidelines, and sanitation measures, you manage to have an amazing evening of laughing with friends over a delicious meal. Before you even pull into your driveway, your phone alerts you that pictures from dinner have been uploaded to Facebook. As you scroll through them, your heart sinks to your stomach when you see that photo after photo shows your metal fillings. Quickly, you untag yourself and spend the rest of the evening reminding yourself to cover your mouth when you laugh or smile.
Did you know that 48% of people have untagged themselves from a picture on social media because they were unhappy with their smile? If dark, distracting spots in your teeth have you feeling insecure, then it is time to speak with your dentist about opting for tooth-colored fillings. Read on for their benefits, as well as whether metal ones are toxic.
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Decades prior, patients would opt for metal fillings to fill a cavity or hole in their tooth. While effective, the silver or gold color left behind can prevent your smile from looking seamless. Fortunately, dentists today can use tooth-colored fillings, which are made of a composite resin, to flawlessly match the color of your smile. That way, patients can get the treatment they need without an unnatural looking result!
5 Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Although tooth-colored fillings are widely loved for their natural look, they have more benefits than just that! In fact, they can:
- Effectively address dental issues, like cavities.
- Keep more of your natural tooth structure.
- Be placed in a single appointment.
- Result in less tooth sensitivity for patients.
- Provide patients with a mercury-free treatment option.
Are Metal Fillings Toxic?
Although there is a very small amount of mercury contained in the silver amalgam fillings, many dentists recommend opting for a tooth-colored filling instead to protect your oral and overall health. Due to your mouth’s proximity to your brain and the fact that it is the entryway to your digestive tract, the toxins do have the ability to spread throughout your body. Therefore, many patients today choose to replace their metal fillings with tooth-colored ones.
Between the aesthetic and overall health benefits of tooth-colored fillings, it’s easy to see why they are the superior choice. If you still have metal fillings, then make sure to talk to your dentist today about upgrading to tooth-colored ones!
About the Author
Before earning his Doctoral of Dental Surgery Degree from the New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Dorian Tetelman completed his undergraduate degree from CUNY Queens College. For over two decades, Dr. Tetelman has used his extensive experience, advanced training, and impressive clinical skill to provide his patients with high-quality dentistry and world-class smiles. If you would like to speak with him about getting tooth-colored fillings, visit his website or give him a call at 212-319-0090.