Metal dental restorations were once very common, and many older patients have at least one silver-amalgam filling. While effective at restoring teeth, silver fillings and metal crowns are unattractive and can make you self-conscious about your appearance. To help you regain your confidence and maintain the integrity of your teeth, Dr. Seal can replace unsightly restorations with tooth-colored fillings or all-porcelain crowns.

Silver-Amalgam Fillings and Metal Crowns

Amalgam fillings are made from an alloy of silver, tin, copper, mercury, and other metals. Amalgam has been steeped in controversy in recent years because of its mercury content, with critics arguing that mercury vapors released from these fillings can contribute to chronic health problems. While the FDA has deemed amalgam fillings safe for everyone except pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under 6, many patients are opting to have these fillings replaced with more biocompatible options, for both health and esthetic reasons.

Crowns made of metals, including gold, palladium, silver, or nickel, are most often used on molars. While very durable tooth restoration options, metal crowns are conspicuous and unattractive. Even porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can be unnatural looking, as they have a metal substructure and often show a gray edge along the gum line. (more…)