Non-Metal Restorations

Dentistry has changed dramatically in a generation and you can now get metal free restorations to replace your old silver fillings. Whether restoring a tooth to health or replacing an existing metal filling, there are varieties of non-metal restorations available to you.

The options vary from composite resins for smaller fillings to porcelain onlays and crowns for larger restorations. An onlay is like a smaller version of a crown in which more natural tooth structure is left untouched and intact. The benefit of porcelain onlays is that they protect fragile tooth structure and are chemically and physically "bonded" to your tooth, restoring it back up to 97% of its original healthy strength.

The reasons for choosing metal-free restorations are quite compelling: safety, strength and appearance!  Today, silver-mercury (metal) amalgams are obsolete. If you have old metal fillings or even if you have new ones, your teeth and your health are at risk! Not only do metal fillings detract from the appearance of the teeth, turning them dark and gray, they also damage the remaining part of the tooth they're meant to protect.

Metal fillings expand and contract with temperature changes. This movement weakens and cracks teeth. It also creates space between the tooth wall and the filling, allowing bacteria to enter, causing decay. Even worse is the controversy of the hazards of amalgam fillings showing that they leak mercury toxins for up to 20 years.