Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are used to repair decayed or damaged teeth. At Braddon Dental we offer amalgam (silver in colour) and amalgam free (white in colour) fillings. If you require a filling we’ll provide you with all the options and recommend the best option for you.

Currently, there is a strong trend toward amalgam free dentistry. However there are advantages and disadvantages of all treatment materials and it’s important to choose a material that would be best option for you.

White fillings are more popular as they look better than the silver filling. They are made of a glass matrix with synthetic resin and a setting ingredient. This type of filling can wear faster if they are placed in a heavy bite area e.g. on back teeth. They required to be bonded onto tooth structure so the more tooth structure there is the stronger the bond. They are technique sensitive so in an area where aesthetic is not a problem we usually don’t recommend this type of filling.

Amalgam fillings are made up of silver, copper, tin and mercury. We use capsule amalgam which contains alloys and mercury. Once mixed by a machine the product becomes an alloy containing no free mercury.

There are number of tests from the National Health & Medical Research Council and Australian Dental Association to test the toxicity level of mercury in amalgam. The results show a minimal amount found causing no reason to limit the use of amalgam.

It’s still the material of choice for large restorations as it is a lot stronger than white filling.

For more information or to make an appointment contact us today, or book your appointment online.