Composite filling (white filling)
You have been recommended white restorations rather than amalgam and you have questions?
- Is it sustainable?
- Is it a quality treatment?
- Is it harmful to my health?
- Will I be in pain afterwards?
What is a white restoration?
White restorations are made of a polymerizable (light-cured) resin that does not contain mercury. They are very aesthetic and allow almost invisible restorations, since a multitude of shades are available in order to imitate the color of the natural tooth. Their durability will always depend on several factors, such as the size of the restoration, the presence of bruxism, dietary habits, etc. It is important to note that time as well as food can alter the color of your restoration in the long term.
In addition, white restorations make it possible to be very conservative in terms of the tooth that needs to be prepared, eliminating unnecessary weakening of the tooth.
When working on a tooth, a slight sensitivity of short duration may appear following the appointment. If the tenderness does not go away, an adjustment of your bite may be necessary.
Filling
Before
After
Bite adjustment
The upper teeth fit perfectly with the lower teeth, this relationship is the occlusion. Following a white composite restoration, an adjustment of the occlusion is made with a blue paper, in order to ensure your comfort during chewing and an optimal relation of the occlusion. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to fit properly because the tooth and the area are numb (under the effect of anesthesia). If the occlusion is not well adjusted, there may be sensitivity to cold and chewing, so it is very important to return to the dentist to continue adjusting the occlusion when the tooth is n is more numb.
The occlusion can be traumatic
- due to genetics,
- following dental treatment,
- following the loss of one or more teeth
Why do dentists at Al Dente not use dental amalgam?
Dental amalgam, or gray filling, which contains 50% mercury, is a durable material that is easy to insert and inexpensive. It is an effective product, despite the fact that it has a tendency to crack teeth, but the debate revolves around its safety on a biological level.
Our choice not to use dental amalgam as a restorative material is that the safety of mercury is not fully confirmed, and since we are already very exposed to mercury, for example, through fish, we don’t want to add more. Our position regarding dental amalgam is above all preventive. Health Canada advises dentists to avoid using mercury amalgam fillings on pregnant women, patients with kidney disease and on the baby teeth of children. It is also advisable not to place metal oral appliances, such as braces or dental arches, in contact with the new generation of dental amalgams.
The position of the Order of Dentists of Quebec
The Canadian Dental Association recognizes that a small portion of the population (about 3%) is sensitive to mercury, but maintains that in general, amalgam would not cause health problems. The Ordre des Dentistes du Québec denies the toxicity of the amalgam but admits that “more research” is needed to prove its safety. For this reason, we prefer to refrain from using dental amalgams.
Mercury and the environment
The mercury emitted by products, such as batteries, dental amalgams, compact fluoro bulbs, thermometers, etc. enters the environment. Once in the atmosphere, mercury can stay there for a very long time and spread globally. Almost all mercury compounds are toxic and can be harmful, even at very low concentrations, to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In humans, mercury poisoning, the threshold of which is set at 100ug of mercury per gram of creatinine in urine, can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys and lungs. Even the fetus can experience developmental problems and be born prematurely if the mother is poisoned by mercury, because the latter crosses the placental barrier easily. Research proves that mercury causes problems at the environmental level, however, the latest observations do not yet indicate that mercury, in the form of dental amalgam, presents a risk for the human health of the general population, and this , despite the fact that it is proven that mercury vapor emanates from dental amalgam fillings. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests a gradual elimination of dental amalgam because it is the greatest source of mercury exposure for the general population.
