MEDICAL INSIDER
DR. RHODA ENTERO
POSTED FOR AUGUST 27, 2023
30 Colored Fillings versus Amalgam Fillings –
Colored Fillings versus Amalgam Fillings –
Which One Should You Choose?
(Part 3)
What Are Dental Amalgam Fillings?
Dental amalgam has withstood the test of time
since its creation even after it was succeeded by
colored fillings.
The reason for this longevity in dentist usage is
because the filling itself offers superior longevity
to its resin composite counterpart.
It didn’t become altogether obsolete because
there are certain things that colored fillings
cannot do that the tough amalgam fillings can.
As far as the Dental Amalgam Fillings, are
concerned, we have to consider the following
discussions:
- The older and Tested Option
- Better Suited to Withstand Moisture
- Cost-Effective and Easy to Maintain
- Color Is Its Main Disadvantage
- Not a Cosmetic or Aesthetic Option
- Allergies and Mercury Poisoning
Let us have a discussion of each topic now. - The Older and Tested Option:
Most dentists choose the traditional, older, and
most tested option when it comes to molar fillings
known as amalgam fillings.
It is because they can survive a beating from all
your molar chewing compared to colored fillings,
after all.
They can also be hidden away easily when you
smile.
It would be nice to somehow get a filling that’s as
strong as amalgam and as inconspicuous as
colored fillings.
Historically Significant: Dental amalgam filling,
also known as silver filling, is a mixture of
mercury together with copper, tin, and silver.
About 50 percent of the amalgam is made up of
mercury, which serves as the binding material for
the rest of the metals, resulting in a durable filling.
This type of filling has been around since 1895 or
has been used for more than a hundred years.
(To be continued)